Lagos NUJ, NAWOJ Flag off N4bn Journalists’ Estate

Hope was rekindled among subscribers to the NAWOJ/NUJ Pen Jewel Estate as Primewaterview Holdings Limited, a real estate development firm, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos branch and Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, laid the foundation for the long awaited 800-unit housing estate in Mowe, Ogun state.

The parties to the project had on June 20, 2016 signed a N4 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build 800 housing units for journalists at Abaren Community, Mowe, in Obafemi Owode Local Government of Ogun State.

The MoU which specified housing types to be built and financed through mortgage arrangement was signed at the Ladi Lawal Press Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. The flag off ceremony of the project was witnessed by several prominent media executives, led by the General Manager, Publication and Editor-In- Chief, Vanguard Media Ltd, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye.

Speaking during the ceremony, Lagos NUJ Chairman, Mr. Deji Elumoye said it was a dream come true for the union to provide affordable accommodation to teeming journalists in the state who are low and middle income earners.

He stated that the developer would build each housing unit at a cost of N5 million, meaning that the 800 housing units would be developed at a cost of N4 billion in the space of 36 months. He noted that NAWOJ and Lagos NUJ which are the promoters of the project had been looking for a worthy developer to commit funds into the project for more than a year.

According to him, the developer would construct a three-bedroom flat with parking space and adequate social amenities. “We are carrying out this project in a transparent manner. Primewaterview has executed a lot of projects within and outside Lagos. After much investigation, we had to settle for them.

The project would lead to the development of three bedroom bungalows with the construction of 800 housing units. We are going to have shopping complex, schools, police post, playing ground and other facilities in the estate. It will be a big estate,” he said.

Elumoye noted that the project would be undertaken in phases, with the first phase comprising 200 housing units, and to be delivered on or before December while the remaining 600 units to be completed within 36 months as allocation to allotees would be done on first come, first served basis. “Our concern is to ensure an average journalist has shelter over his head,” he said, announcing that there will be a stakeholders’ meeting shortly to discuss further terms on the project.

National President, NAWOJ, Mrs. Ifeanyi Omowole, noted that the project covers a land space of 640,000 square meters, adding that the estate would have a global certificate of occupancy. She commended Lagos NUJ for partnering NAWOJ for the realisation of the project to provide affordable housing for journalists. Chairman, Primewaterview Holdings limited, Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi, promised that the company would deliver high quality housing units that journalists would be proud of, while soliciting the support of the subscribers to the project. He said the estate and the community would be provided with constant power supply at an affordable price when the project is completed.