The Oyo State government has expressed its readiness to revoke
undeveloped lands within its designated Government Reserved Areas
(GRAs).
Besides, the state has also said it would release the modalities for
the sale of 38 housing units at the Calton Gate Estate, Akobo area of
Ibadan.
The State’s Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr.
Abdur-Raheem Abiodun, who made the disclosure at the end of the
State’s Executive Council meeting, said that the state government
would revoke any land left unattended to by unserious developers.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo
Adisa, quoted the Commissioner as saying that the state was ready to
key into Land Swap arrangement to ensure development of affordable
accommodation for the people of the state.
According to the Commissioner, the state government was unhappy that
many of the developers who secured allocations for GRA plots in the
past had abandoned the sites.
He added that the state was ready to partner with any interested
individual or group of people for land swapping arrangement in order
to develop the estates.
He said: “Let me also confirm to you that, in order to provide
infrastructure to our GRAs, we are ready to embark on partnership
arrangement. So, whoever is prepared to embark on the infrastructure
on our GRA should indicate interest, so that we can have what we call
land-swapping arrangement. This, in essence, means when you provide
the infrastructure, we will give you part of the land so that the
added value will be to the benefit of all the parties concerned.”
The Commissioner added that Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the
sale of 38 semi-detached units of bungalow situated at Carlton Gate
Estate, Akobo, to interested civil servants and members of the public
at the rate of 7.5 million Naira only, noting that whoever is
interested should visit the Ministry to obtain the form.
He further stated: “We had the 5th meeting of the Excos today and I
can confirm to you that the 38 semi-detached 3-bedroom bungalows at
Carlton Gate Estate are now for sale at the rate of N7.5million. Any
person that is interested will have to obtain form at the Ministry of
Lands, Housing and Urban Development. And the modality for the
purchase of the forms will be well-laid out.”
The Commissioner, however, said the issue would be handled on the
basis of fairness, transparency and accountability.
“Also, I must confirm to you that in line with the spirit of this
government, which has high respect for the civil servants, we have
assigned part of the units to the civil servants. We will map out a
strategy as to how it will be made available to them and the same
thing with members of the public. That is the high point with regards
to the Carlton Gate everybody has been showing some sort of interest
in. We will be fair to everybody in line with the decision of the
Executive Council.”
He added that the move to sell the houses was to fulfill part of the
present administration’s electoral promises to provide affordable
housing for the citizenry.
The Commissioner said: “I can assure members of the public that this
government is prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that we have
a variable land system where we can accommodate the interest of
well-meaning members of this state,” he said.
“I need to further assure you that anyone that is interested in taking
part in our administration of our GRA is welcome but we will ensure
that we will only have those who really mean business with us. We will
be transparent with everybody and ensure that everything is done
properly.
“Furthermore, we will give more on-the-spot report on all other
Government Reserved Areas, (GRAs); those that we have visited on the
16th September and Monday 23rd of this month. It’s an ongoing process,
because we have embarked on some visits including that of Thursday and
the one we will do sometimes next week.”
