FG to rehabilitate unused buildings, assets in Lagos

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, confirmed its readiness to rehabilitate and upgrade unused and dilapidated buildings as well as assets in Lagos State in the coming months.

Ahmed Dangiwa, minister of housing and urban development, confirmed this during an official facility assessment visit in Lagos.

Mr Dangiwa stated that the buildings, which were left unrehabilitated for some time, pose challenges and security concerns for the Lagos state government.

The minister lamented the deplorable state of various federal government buildings assessed, noting the lack of water and electricity supply, with most facilities in disrepair.

“The buildings that the federal government can put its money for the upgrade will be done, while the one we need collaboration from the private sector would be done also.

“The private sector will bring in their money, rehabilitate and upgrade them to a befitting status and then rent them out to willing off-takers to recoup their investment before returning it to the federal government.

“This is a better offer of collaboration that we intend to do,” he said.

At Lagos Field Headquarters’ Office at Tafawa Balewa, Mr Dangiwa revealed that the building houses over 40 federal government ministries, departments and agencies, including the ministry of housing and urban development.

He noted that most of the institutions were not putting any of their funding towards the rehabilitation of the living conditions where they work.

“Since they are expecting only the Ministry of Housing to do that, we decided to come on board to see what we could to upgrade it.

“We have phases one, two, and three of the rehabilitation. We have told the Controller to itemise the basic one in order of priority.

According to him, 12 of the deplorable facilities of the federal government across the states would be visited in the course of the three-day assessment visit.

Mr Dangiwa said the visiting team also paid a courtesy call to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to discuss areas of collaboration between the federal and state governments.

He disclosed that the federal and the state governments had agreed to work together and set up a tripartite committee that would ensure concerns between the parties were resolved amicably for the benefit of all.

Earlier, the controller of housing, Lagos, Funmilayo Olayiwola, said that lack of power supply, water, dilapidated structures and obsolete operational vehicles were part of the challenges of the facilities, thereby limiting the productivity of staff.

The minister visited the old Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi; Federal Land Registry, Ribadu in Ikoyi, Craft Training Schools in Ikoyi; and Harvey Road, Yaba.

Also, 60-bed hostel facilities at Onikan, National Population Commission land at Surulere and Eric More Housing and Treatment Plant Project at Surulere.

Most of the buildings visited served as offices of the federal government workers in Lagos state before becoming vacant or unused due to the relocation of the Federal Capital Territory from Lagos to Abuja on Dec. 12, 1991.

The minister was accompanied by the minister of state, Yusuf Ata, and the permanent secretary, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi.

On Thursday, the minister will continue his work visit to inspect some ongoing federal government housing estates and projects and also engage stakeholders on land administration.