Lagos Assembly Constitutes Committee To Evaluate State Of Government Owned Estates
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday, constituted a 7-man committee to monitor and evaluate the bad state of government-owned estates spread across the state.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that the Committee, which is to be headed by the Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Housing, Hon. Ibrahim Layode, Badagry 1 is expected to report back to the House within two weeks.
Other members of the committee include Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, Mushin 1; Hon. Idimogu Jude, Oshodi-Isolo 2; Hon. Noheem Adams, Eti-Osa1; Hon. Abiodun Tobun Epe 1; Hon. Oladipupo Olorunrinu, Amuwo Odofin 1 and Hon. Rasheed Makinde, Ifako-Ijaiye 2.
The committee was set up in reaction to a motion moved by some lawmakers in the House with the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Ikorodu 1, as the prime mover.
The motion had called the attention of the lawmakers to the alleged bad state of government estates spread across the state and the fact that there is no statutory provision for the maintenance of the estates after being sold to the beneficiaries.
Agunbiade stated that most of the estates have become shadows of their old selves, adding that the occupants have changed the plans of the government for the estates by building shanties and shops.
“We noticed that the estates have become dilapidated as they lack maintenance; the premises are dirty, and people build all sorts of structures around the estate,” he declared.
Agunbiade noted that, “If you go round the estates, you would observe that they have lost their beauty and they seem to have been abandoned over the years.”
Supporting the motion, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, representing Agege 2, stated that the motion is meant to make life better for the residents of the estates, and that if the situation continues, the houses in the estates would keep collapsing.
Also speaking, Hon. Adebisi Yusuff, representing Alimosho 1, said that most of the estates in his area are in a bad state adding that some owners of the estates have even sold them, and are now living inside containers.
“There should be facility managers for the estates. For instance, Jakande Estate in Abesan should have a police station, but the whole land has been occupied illegally,” he said.
Hon. Omotayo Oduntan from Alimosho 2 also believes that most of the estates have become eyesores, and that they have become over-populated over the years.
She added that people have even turned the estates to dumping sites.
According to Hon. Rasheed Makinde, the problem with the estate has to do with lack of lay out plans, while stressing that FESTAC 77 Estate in Amuwo Odofin has become a den of armed robbers.