The Lagos State Government has announced the revocation of state-allocated housing units that have remained unoccupied for over two years. This move is part of the government’s efforts to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of housing resources to those in genuine need of accommodation.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Public Affairs, Ganiu Lawal. According to the report by the newsmen, the revocation applies to housing units that were allocated to subscribers but left vacant for an extended period.
The enforcement of this policy was observed at the Lagos State Housing Estate in Sangotedo, Lekki, where Akinderu-Fatai stressed the importance of reallocating these unoccupied units to individuals who are genuinely in need of housing. He noted that the move is in line with the state government’s broader efforts to address the ongoing housing challenges in Lagos.
“These housing units are meant for those who truly need them, not for speculators or those hoarding properties for resale,” Akinderu-Fatai said. He expressed concern about the prolonged vacancy of units under schemes like the Rent-To-Own program, which are specifically designed to provide affordable housing to low and middle-income families.
The commissioner warned that the neglect of these properties could lead to the deterioration of estate infrastructure and undermine the government’s broader housing initiatives. He called on beneficiaries to make use of the housing allocations in a timely manner to avoid further wastage of valuable resources.
In addition to the Rent-To-Own program, the Lagos State Government has also introduced the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS), which aims to provide affordable homeownership options for residents.
These initiatives prioritize equitable access to housing, discourage subletting, and maintain transparency through a pre-qualification and draw process to ensure that the housing units go to those who need them most.
