.state ready for land swapping for development
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.”
