Professionals berate multiple agencies approach to housing delivery in Lagos

Professionals in the built environment are of the opinion that multiple agencies approach to housing delivery in Lagos needs to be reviewed, arguing that the situation is duplicity of duties capable of hindering the objective of housing provision.

Speaking exclusively with Nigerian Tribune in his Lekki office last week, Chief Mahmood Alimi posited that it would be better if government could harmonise activities of various agencies under a single umbrella, while state’s housing ministry continue its oversight roles.

“Understandably, housing needs in Lagos is on high demand, with private developers and government striving to meet the challenge. However, the approach, by which five agencies engage in the housing sector seems to be out of point, considering the sparse impact Lagos has achieved all the while”, he said, stating that  Lagos State  Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC),Lagos Building Investment Corporation (LIBC); the New Town Development Authority (NTDA), Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB) and lately, Lagos HOMS, are just too many compared with their outputs.

To some analysts, and rightly so, creation of many agencies in housing sector by the successive administration in Lagos, revealed what they described as “unnecessary rivalry and waste of human and financial resources.”

Another real estate consultant, Alhaji Tajudeen Adetunji, noted that Lagos had two agencies in the 50’s and 80’s, the LSDPC and LEDB, apart from Lagos State Ministry for Housing, and they were doing well.

“The Lagos State government had a documented history of housing provision from the days of Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB) in 1950’s. LEDB was able to deliver 4,502 housing units, within 17 years, from 1955 to 1972 when it was dissolved. That period witnessed a rising in population, from 1.4 million in 1963 to 3.5 million in 1975.

“In 1972, the functions of LEDB were transferred to Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) as the sole agency responsible for the provision of housing in Lagos State.

“Since its inception in 1972, LSDPC has been saddled with the execution of gigantic low-cost housing program of the early eighties which yielded close to 10, 000 units. In 1979 under the leadership of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, LSDPC took a dynamic and elaborate turn with emphasis on low cost flats to cater for the needs of the low-income earners.

“However, for reasons that are not known, other administrations, particularly, in the Fourth Republic had created more agencies, without any significant results. May be to just create job for politicians”, he said.

By 1992, about 17, 000 units were built in several locations which included Abesan where4, 272 units of housing were delivered.

Similarly in Amuwo Odofin 2, 068: Iba 1, 560; Ijaye 812; Ijeh 62;  Isolo 3, 632 and Ojokoro 534 units respectively.

Thus, between 1972 and 1999, LSDPC was able to deliver 20, 120 housing units while 1, 818 housing units were delivered from 2000 to 2010.

According to an International Development, Urban Infrastructure and Governance expert, Mr Lookman Oshodi, the joint venture housing projects yielded 331 units while the ongoing projects at Lekki Scheme 2 and Apapa GRA will yield combined units of 150. The proposed residential projects at Victoria Island and Abijo are expected to increase the stock by 236 units.

“The total stock from LSDPC excluding the proposed units over the 38 year period is 22, 419 housing units, that is an average of 590 units per annum (LSDPC, 2010).

“A very laudable idea but it has not impacted much on the housing delivery in Lagos. Their attempt has included Lekki scheme 1 and 2, Amuwo Odofin and Isheri North.

“In recent times the Ministry of Housing and Lagos Building and Investment Company [LBIC] did commence direct construction of houses in Lagos thus compromising the mandate of LSDPC.

“The Ministry of Housing till date has constructed 18 No. housing estates with 5 others under construction. The total units of this strategy are less than 5, 000 units while the LBIC intervention will yield less than 1, 500 units Lagos State Ministry of Housing.

So, the argument is that government should collapse some of these agencies into one, with Ministry of Housing taking the control and provide necessary incentives for private investors; gear up mortgage facilities and facilitates quality land administration.