The Ogun State Government has announced that it will soon inaugurate and allocate no fewer than 500 low-income housing units to residents. These units, constructed in three schemes known as Prince Court Estates in Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, and Ilaro, aim to significantly reduce the housing deficit in Ogun.
Addressing journalists at the Ministry of Housing’s Conference Room in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Housing, Jamiu Akande Omoniyi, emphasized that the establishment of these housing schemes across the three senatorial districts by the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration is intended to provide affordable yet quality housing for the state’s low-income earners.
Omoniyi highlighted that during Governor Abiodun’s first term from 2019 to 2023, 4,000 housing units were constructed by the Ministry of Housing, the Ogun State Housing Corporation, and the Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC).
Additionally, the Commissioner noted that two-bedroom housing units in Prince Courts Estate at Kobape and Kemta Idi Aba in Abeokuta have been completed and allocated to subscribers. He stressed that the administration’s goal is not profit but to offer affordable housing as a social service.
Omoniyi asserted that Ogun State offers the cheapest low-cost houses in the country, citing that while a two-bedroom bungalow costs N15 million elsewhere, it is available in Ogun for N5.5 million, with civil servants receiving a discounted rate of N4.9 million.
Regarding the delayed allocation of houses to subscribers of Phase 3 of Prince Court Estate, Kobape, Omoniyi attributed the delay to inflation in building material costs and other economic factors. He refuted rumors of fraud, disclosing that 110 out of 200 subscribers would be allocated their properties by Monday of next week.
“The state government has not defrauded any subscribers to our housing schemes. The unexpected astronomical rise in building materials and other economic factors have been responsible for the delay in the allocation of these houses. By Monday next week, 110 subscribers will be allocated their property,” Omoniyi stated.
He added that measures are being taken to prevent double allocation and that most subscribers spreading false information are defaulters who have not completed their payments. These 36 defaulters will have their money refunded in full, despite normally forfeiting 10% of their deposits. Additionally, 54 subscribers are under scrutiny by the Internal Audit Office and will be allocated houses once cleared. Furthermore, 20 subscribers who failed to take possession of their houses since 2021 will have their deposits refunded and their offers revoked.
