The Lagos State Government has rolled out new plans for preserving the facilities in its various housing schemes.
Commissioner for Housing Moruf Akinderu-Fatai said the plans would ensure transformation of Lagos in line with the standards of a 21st Century economy.
According to him, there should be viable plans to keep the facilities and aesthetics of the housing estates in good shape.
The government, he said, would implement the payment of maintenance charges and sinking funds as part of plans to preserve the infrastructure facilities of existing state-owned estates and enhance the investment of the home owners in the property.
Akinderu-Fatai lamented the deplorable condition of some old and depreciating housing estates.
He said the sinking fund will ensure that there is availability of money when it is time to upgrade the facilities of the newly delivered estates.
He said: “The maintenance charge and sinking fund will be contributed by the homeowners or residents on a monthly, quarterly, or annually basis for the upkeep of the central sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant, green area and beatification, and repainting of faded externals to befit the greater Lagos image.”
He pointed out that henceforth all estates completed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration will be periodically repainted from the sinking fund so as to enhance the value of the homes and ascertain that the quality of life is maintained.
The commissioner also reiterated that the state is committed to a coordinated facility management plan which would involve qualified facility managers to enhance the life span of the infrastructure in the estates.
He added that the Resident Associations and Facility managers should be signatories to the bank accounts meant for the maintenance of the joint facilities in the Estates.
He appealed to the residents associations of the estates and the facility managers to work in harmoniously for achieve the set goals and objectives of the maintenance plan.
The Permanent Secretary of Housing, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola expressed the government’s disappointment with some homeowners who are still defaulting in the payment of the purchase price of the homes especially in old estates such as Baba Omojola Estate, Gbagada.
He advised the defaulters to please pay-up their debts so as not to deprive others of the much needed succour being provided by the government in the area of housing.