The Lagos State Government says it is intensifying efforts to complete and commission the Egan Housing Estate and other ongoing housing projects before the end of the year.
The State Commissioner for Housing, Mr Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said this during an inspection of the Egan Housing Estate, the Lagos State Workers' Village at Command, Ipaja, and the Beacon Apartments, Ipaja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the Egan Housing Estate, comprising 632 two- and three-bedroom apartments, has reached about 85 per cent completion inspite of delays caused by one of the contractors.
"We are here to assess the work done so far. We have one contractor that is far behind schedule and that is our major challenge, but it will not stop us from moving ahead to commission the project in good time.
"The first phase was completed about two years ago and people are already living there.
"What we are doing now is to ensure that the remaining engineering components are completed so that the project can be commissioned before the end of the year," he said.
The commissioner said the government had resolved the electricity challenge affecting the estate, adding that the water reticulation plant and sewage system had also been completed.
He said the government was determined to ensure that all essential infrastructure was in place before the estate was inaugurated.
Akinderu-Fatai said the state was also accelerating work on the Workers' Village at Ipaja and another joint-venture housing development in the area to expand access to decent housing.
On affordability, he said the projects were part of government's intervention to provide homes for low-income earners.
According to him, the government adopted cost-saving measures by delivering functional housing units while allowing homeowners to complete non-essential interior finishes such as floor tiles at their convenience.
"This is one of the strategies to make the houses affordable, while the governor is also ensuring that beneficiaries pay less than prevailing market prices," he said.
The commissioner said facility management charges in government estates were determined by residents and facility managers rather than by government.
He, however, assured residents that the state would continue to intervene whenever major infrastructure required government support.
He cited the government's intervention in replacing an injection substation at the LKJ Gardens Estate, saying over N200 million was spent on the project to reduce the burden on residents.
Akinderu-Fatai also disclosed that plans were underway to install solar-powered systems to reduce the cost of operating water facilities in the estates.
He said recreational facilities, including football and basketball pitches, a hall and a neighbourhood shopping mall, were under construction at the Egan Housing Estate and would be completed before the end of the year.
Speaking at the Lagos State Workers' Village, the commissioner described the project as one of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu's legacy projects for workers.
He said the governor was committed to handing over the estate to workers before the end of his administration, adding that the inspection was to ensure contractors met project timelines.
At the Beacon Apartments, Ipaja, Akinderu-Fatai urged the contractor to sustain the pace of work to ensure all housing units were delivered simultaneously.
"We are going to deliver this project together. The remaining components are very important and must receive adequate attention," he said.
Earlier at the Lagos State Workers' Village, the Project Coordinator, Mr Tunde Orelaja, said construction commenced in April and was expected to be completed by March next year or earlier.
Orelaja said the contractor encountered some site-related challenges after mobilisation but noted that such issues were common in construction projects and were being professionally addressed.
Also speaking at the Beacon Apartments, RPDC Ltd. Project Coordinator, said Phase II of the project, comprising 80 two-bedroom flats, was progressing as planned.
The coordinator said three of the five residential blocks would be completed by the end of August after internal electrical and mechanical installations, painting, wardrobes and pressure tests had been concluded.
He added that landscaping would commence immediately, while roofing works on the remaining blocks would begin after final inspection by officials of the Ministry of Housing.
The Beacon Apartments comprise 48 three-bedroom apartments and 80 two-bedroom apartments and being developed under a joint venture arrangement between the Lagos State Government and the private sector.
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