Lagos Embarks On New Housing Projects In Central Lagos Island

Convinced of the positive impacts the urban renewal scheme would have on the state and her residents on one hand, and the entire real estate industry, the Lagos State Government has expressed its determination to ensure its central Island and environs are fully regenerated.

Senior officials of the government spoke at the commencement of a two high-rise residential projects within the area as part of the state’s activities to meet the megacity challenges in the Lagos Island domain.

Located at Isalegangan and Ojo-Giwa areas, the projects, which would be delivered through regeneration initiative, as different property owners pool together their landed properties for redevelopment, that would be known as Isalegangan Phase two and Ojo-Giwa.

Unlike a situation where dilapidated buildings occupy spaces that are not properly utilized, the redevelopment project would now bring into the site, high-rise buildings befitting the central Lagos.

Isalegangan is one of such area where the second phase is in the offing, having nearly complete the first phase of the scheme that is currently at 90 percent completion stage.

The Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), who is to ensure that all parties involved in the schemes are being carried along for the successful completion of the projects, is coordinating the regeneration exercise.

The exercise is currently taking place in four locations that included the Adeniji Adele Housing Estate, Isalegangan phase one, Ojo-Giwa and Isalegangan phase two.

Redevelopment Plan of Isalegangan Phase 1, is an 11-floor edifice that has 13 participating families as part of the stakeholders, with 2500 square metres of total area of land pooled together for the project.

The building was designed as 11 floors with ground and first floor exclusively reserved for parking and the sixth floor for communal use of the family.

Total number of dwelling units to be provided in the development is 48 units (6 units per floor), while Messrs Anatolia Nigeria Ltd., is the contractor handling the project.

Part of modality for the project is that there is resettlement and relocation allowance with option of rental fee for period of construction paid to property owners. Nine of which opted for rents, while four opted for LASURA’s transit accommodation at Amuwo and Iba and additional three years rent payment currently being disbursed to them.

Speaking on the progress of the projects, LASURA General Manager, Mr. Benedict O. Kehinde, hinted that the project will be completed before December 2014, noting that work is already at 11th floor, in both wing “A” and “B”, promising that original landowners are to be resettled back after completion.

According to Kehinde, the redevelopment plan of Princess, Old Aroloya and Anikantamo Streets, Lagos Island that made up of Isalegangan II, has seven participating families, with 13-floor structures in view.

He said the footprints of existing properties measured to determine the contribution of individual land holding families, with several stakeholders’ meetings were held to secure the buy in of property owners.

“The total land area pooled together is 2,599.222square metres, while the proposed development is 13-floor structure with ground and first floor reserved for parking space.

“Besides, in the site preparation plan, resettlement allowances had been paid to six families and transit accommodation to the remaining one family has been provided”, said the general manager, adding that relocation allowance was paid to all tenants in the 13 affected structures.

Already, demolition of existing structures had been carried out. This is to allow for subsoil investigation to be carried out and that has been also completed.

Besides, preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is ongoing with a view to securing planning permit before the commencement of construction proper.

For the Ojo-Giwa, it would be recalled that the site for the project is where there was incident of fire outbreak on December 26, 2012 by explosives, upon which the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, set up Tribunal of Enquiries to determine the primary cause of the inferno. The tribunal had completed its assignment and a white paper has been released.

“It is upon this development that the agency was asked to meet with the affected families to draw up a development plan that would be acceptable to all the parties.

“Unlike the Isalegangan phase 1 that was funded by the government, other projects are to be funded through joint partnership with private investors”.

Highlighted the journey so far in the redevelopment plan for Phase 1 extension of Adeniji Adele Estate, Kehinde noted thus: “A socio-economic and Housing Survey Conducted by LASURA in May, 2015 revealed the Vulnerability index of the Estate. There are 120 blocks each block is three floors of six flats totaling 720 flats.

“The study shows that the phase 1 extension consisting of five blocks is the most vulnerable, hence the redevelopment began from that section,” Kehinde revealed.

He also confirmed that 18 families were paid resettlement and relocation allowance of N1.47 million naira each for estimated three (3) years period of construction while 12 families opted for transit accommodation of LASURA in Amuwo and Iba with relocation allowance of 250,000 each.

The five (5) blocks containing the 30 flats have been removed and soil test completed.

It would be recalled that Lagos Island is a built-up area, with many old buildings and lack of infrastructure, especially, access roads. Besides, most of the buildings need to be replaced, hence, government’s intervention with the novel idea that different families in certain location pooled together their landed properties that would be redeveloped with modern facilities and functional infrastructure. Isalegangan phase one proved that the idea is not only acceptable to all the stakeholders, it also proved to be in tandem with urban renewal programme aiming at meeting the megacity challenges in Lagos state.

Source: Guardian