Shelter Africa, a Pan-African Finance institution that offers exclusive support on housing and real estate sector development in Africa, has pledged to support the construction of housing units for hundreds of civil and public servants in Ogun state government’s employ with N2 billion.
Shelter Afrique, a partnership of 44 African Governments, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Reinsurance Company, which finances affordable housing for Africa, collaborates with Ogun State Housing Corporation (OGSHC) on the provision of low-cost housing scheme for civil and public servants who are contributors to the National Housing Scheme.
Speaking at an official meeting held in Abeokuta with Jumoke Akinwunmi, general manager, Ogun State Housing Corporation, Oumar Diop, resident regional representative of Shelter Afrique, said that Shelter Afrique was willing and committed to making available the sum of N2 billion for the construction of housing units to be located at Kemta, Idi-Aba in Abeokuta.
Diop noted that the low-cost housing units were to be provided for workers who had not benefited from the previous housing schemes in the state, adding that the project would avail workers the opportunity to have their own houses since the project was meant to promote home building and ownership and, in return, boost workers’ productivity.
Responding, Akinwunmi appreciated Shelter Afrique for the partnership on housing development in the state, assuring Shelter Afrique of state government’s cooperation on the project.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC) has completed 9.4 kilometres of residential and industrial roads in Agbara Estates aimed at developing industries in the axis; easing haulage of raw-materials and finished goods to and fro scores of manufacturing industries.
Speaking on the construction of roads in the estates, Taiwo Aridegbe, OPIC’s general manager, said that government had constructed 5.8 kilometers industrial graded roads in Area 1 & 5; 3.6 kilometers residential road in Area 4 and graded/opened road in Area 1 & 8.
According to him, the first phase of work focused on the areas densely populated by OPIC allottees, these were area 4 and 1 industrial area and the cost of these roads was primarily borne by government through the corporation, adding that water channelization was equally provided to reduce flooding.
“In addition, efforts to maintain security were enhanced by upgrading the police station which was refurbished and renovated by OPIC in October 2014,” he added.
Aridegbe said the state government, through OPIC, would remain committed to upgrading OPIC Agbara, but regretted that the Federal Government’s outright neglect of the Badagry/ Sokoto Expressway did not complement the efforts of the state government on roads infrastructure.
“The abandonment had resulted to traffic detours through our estate and to mitigate damage caused by these detours, OPIC has opened up Road 411, measuring over 1.6 kilometres, rolled and compacted it with laterite in readiness for completion during the second phase.”
He however, said despite the financial challenges, OPIC would resume work on the second phase in a short while, saying that would cover most of Area 8, the remaining arterial roads, Area 5 and Igbesa axis just as he added that government would commence the reconstruction of access roads soon to relieve the pressure on the recently developed road networks.
RAZAQ AYINLA
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