1st July, 2024
The Lagos State Government disclosed that no fewer than 145 subscribers had since been refunded their full deposit for various categories of homes in Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Estate following their indication of lack of further interest in the Housing Scheme.
This revelation was made by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Gbolahan Toriola while fielding questions on the allocation of the newly commissioned 270 home units (Cluster 1) of the Egan Housing Scheme.
He pointed out that the delivery of the Housing Estate was cumbered by various factors ranging from administrative issues to large scale vandalization of the estate by hoodlums.
While lauding the patience and understanding of the early subscribers of the estate who waited for the estate to be completed, Toriola said “the State Government has since refunded 145 former subscribers who applied for repayment with genuine evidence of payment since the administration of Former Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode till date.”
The Permanent Secretary also appealed to subscribers who had applied for refund but have not been paid to come down to the Ministry of Housing with all necessary original documents while subscribers with claims of loss of original receipt or document should provide police report and declaration of Loss of Document or Receipt.
Toriola said that as at today 145 former subscribers with genuine evidence of payment had been refunded, saying that “those with no evidence of payments or with questionable documentations are still being investigated.”
The Permanent Secretary recalled that the Governor of the State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu insisted on protecting the interest of the old subscribers who have paid the full sum of the purchase price.
To this end, he said such subscribers were to be immediately handed their home keys while those who paid more than 50% of the initial selling price shall be considered with an option to balance up at the current selling price or apply for refund.
He further said that this was also in acknowledgement of the commitment made by the subscribers and confidence exhibited over the years, while disclosing that over 70% of the early subscribers did not make payments beyond the initial 10% deposits made to Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC).
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged that there was a change of policy from LBIC “Mortgage scheme” to the “Outright purchase” of Ministry of Housing at the point of hand over of the scheme to the Ministry in 2017 by Ex- Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
He said that this policy alteration was communicated to all subscribers through various platforms.
Toriola then assured all genuine subscribers that the delivery of the Egan housing scheme was still an ongoing process, noting that there are still 576 homes of various categories to be completed before the end of 1st quarter, 2025.
He also pointed out that the State Government had continuously called several stakeholders meetings for over five years to work out mutual plans for allocation or refunds for those who were no longer interested in the housing estate while assuring that more stakeholders meeting would be held to ensure that the interest of all genuine subscribers were protected.
