Lagos govt planning on ‘rent and own’ housing scheme

Firstclass newsline gathered that the Lagos State Governor, Mr
Akinwumi Ambode, on Friday said the state would consider adopting a
'rent and own' policy in resolving the housing deficit in the state.
In an interactive session at his office in Alausa, Ikeja, Ambode
acknowledged that it was not easy for a winner of a three-bedroom
flat, under the state government's housing scheme, to make an initial
payment of about N5m, which is half the cost, before spreading the
balance through monthly payments.
He noted that it was unnecessary for a bachelor or spinster to own a
three-bedroom flat, stressing that it was better for those in this
category to get studio apartments and upgrade to more spacious
accommodations when they were married and started having children.
He appreciated the solid foundation already laid by his predecessors
in office in the state, calling for suggestions and constructive
criticism by all residents, including the media, so as to build on
what was on the ground.
TheNews Agency of Nigeria quotes Ambode as noting that the multi-modal
approach already in place to tackle transportation problems in the
state would be improved upon.
He said his focus would be on 'continuity with improvement', adding
that the involvement of the private sector in solving Lagos State's
transportation problems would be intensified.
Ambode explained that though about 230 private boat operators were
transporting about a million people daily through the waterways, more
were welcome.
"As more means of mass transportation come on board, the more than
600,000 private car owners and 120,000 motorcycles that are being put
on the road in the state on daily basis will reduce in number," he
said.
On dwindling federal allocation, Ambode stated that the state would
enlarge its internally generated revenue drive, without bringing
hardship on residents.
According to the governor, less than half of the taxable adults in the
state currently performed their civic obligations, saying it was time
more are made to key into doing so without increasing taxation.
Ambode pledged that more effort would be put in place to promote
tourism in the state and use this to provide jobs for the teeming
unemployed.
Specifically, the governor explained that a summit would soon be
convened to address the critical issues in the sector.
Firstclassnewsline.net