Lagos Govt Charges Residents to Maintain Estates, Preserve Property Value

Lagos Govt Charges Residents to Maintain Estates, Preserve Property Value
Warns Estate Residents Against Violating Housing Regulations
Introduces New Payment System for Housing Estate Service Charges

The Lagos State Government has urged residents of government-owned housing estates to take greater responsibility for maintaining their neighbourhoods, saying proactive community involvement is essential to preserving infrastructure, enhancing security and sustaining property values.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Abdulhafis Toriola, made the appeal during the ministry’s monthly stakeholders’ engagement with residents held at the Millennium Housing Estate, Agbado-Ijaiye, Ojokoro, on Saturday.

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Toriola said the engagement was designed to strengthen collaboration between the government and residents while providing a platform to identify challenges and receive feedback for improved estate management.

He encouraged residents to take ownership of their communities by addressing minor maintenance issues without waiting for government intervention.

“Wherever you live, you need to be proactive and take ownership so that the estate retains its value. When you notice something that needs attention, fix what you can. Where government intervention is required, we will come in and assist. You do not have to wait for government to fix everything,” he said.

The permanent secretary commended residents for their efforts in maintaining their estates and urged them to comply with the terms and conditions attached to their property allocation.

He also stressed the importance of paying insurance premiums, describing insurance as a vital safeguard for both residents and government assets, while reminding allottees to fulfil land use charge obligations and other statutory requirements.

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According to him, regular stakeholders’ engagements have enabled the ministry to gather feedback that has informed improvement projects across government housing estates.

Toriola added that the state had commenced urban renewal initiatives, including the redevelopment of the ageing Jakande Estate in Lekki following structural integrity assessments.

Earlier, the Director of the Estate Department, Olukemi Fosude, said the engagement aimed to sensitise residents on government housing policies, strengthen collaboration and address challenges affecting estate management.

She noted that the ministry remained committed to maintaining estate infrastructure, coordinating facility management, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing service charges and promoting sustainable communities.

Fosude disclosed that the ministry had introduced a standardised demand notice and unique payment code for every allottee to improve transparency, accountability and reconciliation of service charge payments.

She also reminded residents of their responsibilities, including prompt payment of service charges and insurance premiums, while warning against illegal structures, unauthorised commercial activities, indiscriminate waste disposal and other violations of estate regulations.

She further encouraged residents to participate in the state’s reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise to promote hygiene, prevent flooding and preserve property values.

Speaking on behalf of residents, Vice Chairman of Millennium Housing Estate, Agbado-Ijaiye, Chris Otabo, commended the ministry for improving security through the construction of perimeter fencing and beautification of the estate.

He, however, appealed for improved drainage channels, rehabilitation of deteriorating roads and installation of additional streetlights.

Similarly, Chairman of Millennium Housing Estate, Okoba, Jamil Onosoya, praised the ministry for rehabilitating residential blocks and upgrading infrastructure but appealed for the completion of an abandoned water project and the provision of additional recreational facilities and smart security infrastructure.

Representatives of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos State Health Management Agency, Lagos State Mortgage Board, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency attended the event, where they educated residents on waste management, fire safety, insurance, security and environmental sustainability.