Dapo Abiodun and housing development in Ogun State

By: Oluwaseun Boye

Housing is an essential need of every human being, just like food and clothing .
It is very important to the welfare, survival and health of mankind.

Be that as it may, housing is one of the key indicators for measuring standards of living and the place of man a the society. Also, location and type of housing can
determine or affect the status of man in the society.

It is, therefore, worthy of note that, shelter is central to the existence
of man, without which man can't guarantee his security.

However, an unhygienic and unhealthy housing can affect the security, physical health and sanity of man.The provision of housing  to citizenry is an important aspect of the social welfare and economic development in any nation.
Some argue that access to adequate housing, according to an international human rights agency, government, at all levels, should do all within its power to provide for the needs of its citizens.

Of course, the
housing sector is the bedrock of any given economy in most developed nations, as well as an important tool for stimulating growth and development. Housing construction indices are some of the most common measures being used by analysts to gauge economic trends in  any country.
In more advanced countries of the world,  like the United States of America and  Britain, the sector contributes significantly, between 30 percent and 70 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Thus, investment in housing accounts for, between 15 percent to 35 percent of aggregate investment worldwide and the sector employs approximately 10 percent of labour force worldwide.

For instance, in Ogun State, as part of the vision of Governor  Dapo Abiodun-led administration to ensure  residents in the State have decent roofs over their heads, as well as need to provide for decent and befitting  accommodation for all and sundry,  Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC)under the leadership of the new Managing Director, Mrs. Ibiyemi  Adesoye has commenced the development of Kings  Court Estate, with about 48,685.34 square metre approximately 4.87 hectares of land, located along the Presidential Boulevard, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital.
The proposed Gated community would accommodate 51 villas of five bedrooms and an attached Boy’s Quarters, with other facilities to include, a shopping mall, club house, a recreation centre, potable water, swimming pool and uninterrupted power supply, among others.

With this initiative, the development would aid the growth of the State’s economy as an investment hub in Nigeria, by attracting investors which is fundamental to the economic development and the individual prosperity of the State.

Also,in the pipeline, is the Family Homes Estate at New Makun City which is an initiative of Family Homes Funds ( FHF), a Federal  Government Social Housing Project, aimed at making housing affordable and available for low-income earners in the Country.
Ogun State is chosen as one of the pilot states to test-run the scheme and currently, the scheme is on-going with 36 units of studio flats, 456 units, each of 1 and 2 bedroom flats and 72 units of 3 bedroom bungalows at various stages of completion.

With this new development, Ogun residents would boast of a world class secured, peaceful  and serene environment that would meet their day-to- day challenges.

As a matter of fact, the  Dapo Abiodun-led administration is determined to make housing, not only available, but affordable to the good people of the State. Hence, the giant strides by OPIC, Ogun State Housing Corporation, a sister agency was established and saddled with similar mission to ensure that people in the state-owned or, at least, have access to decent, safe and sanitary housing accommodation at affordable cost with secured land tenure.
No doubt, Abiodun has identified housing as an essential element in humans life, with a promise to his people to embark on more housing projects for their benefits, across the three Senatorial districts of the State.

The Governor whose ideology is premised on "building our future together"  has not left out the civil servants and has assured them of the construction of more housing schemes that would not affect their take-home pay.

The good news for the people of the state is the commencemt of mass housing estates in Abeokuta and other parts of the State to provide decent houses to the people at affordable prices to address the housing deficit in the State.

Governor  Abiodun reiterated that shelter, as  one of the basic needs of man,  must be sold to the people at affordable prices and  the services of artisans and other auxiliary workers would be engaged in the project.

Indeed, better days are ahead for citizens, home and abroad, as well as investors in the Gateway State.