• Says payment of facility fee crucial for maintenance
Lagos State government has cautioned allottees of housing estates against hosting tenants that pose a threat to the security of the estates.

Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, gave the warning during a visit to ascertain the extent of damage done to cables, generators, and electrical panels by vandals and robbers at Abiodun Ogunleye Housing Estate, Igbogbo.

The commissioner said sanctions will be applied where residents do not conform to rules and regulations put in place for sustainability of the estate.

Akinderu-Fatai, who could not hide his dismay at the level of destruction, described the criminal act by the vandals as a great setback and major distraction to the government’s intervention in the provision of housing in the state.

He lamented that the state’s gesture in providing subsidised homes for low-income earners has not been positively reciprocated by the residents.

“This occurrence, at a time like this, shows that some citizens do not have a clear understanding of the state’s passion for provision of decent housing for the people. The fund that will be used to replace these items will definitely reduce the number of homes to be provided for others,” he said.

The commissioner blamed the security breach on indifference and apathy by residents, saying the vandals must have taken a long time to unearth the cables, cut, and cart them away.

On revelations that many residents refused to pay monthly facilities management fees, and also brought in tenants that threaten the security of the estate, he said: “Henceforth, anyone that refuses to pay facility maintenance fees or leases his allocation to miscreants will face ejection.”

He said the state will not hesitate to take back the allocation of those who insist on not paying maintenance fees, in contravention of Article 6 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the state government.

He stressed that refusal to pay maintenance fees means allottees are willfully forfeiting their right of ownership.

Akinderu-Fatai also frowned at those who rent out their apartments, saying the intention of the Lagos State government is to provide homes for people in need of accommodation, and not property speculators.

He warned that those who let out their homes to internet fraudsters, cultists, and people of questionable characters would lose such allocations, if the allegations are sufficiently proved.

On his part, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Abdulhafis Gbolahan Toriola, said facility management fee is mandatory for all residents to provide security, refuse disposal, street lighting, cleaning etc.

He said to ensure transparency and accountability, the fund is managed by representatives of the residents’ association, Ministry of Housing, and the facility manager.

Toriola said: “Facility management is critical in ensuring that infrastructural facilities provided in the estates work perfectly and constantly. Hence, the state will not compromise the sustainability of its estates by not sanctioning defaulters.”

The permanent secretary implored residents’ associations to give the ministry information on those who harbour criminals on the estates, in the interest of everyone’s safety. He also charged homeowners to take up responsibility for estate infrastructure.