Oyo State Ready for Land Swap for Affordable Housing Development

The Oyo State government says it is ready to key into land swap arrangement to ensure development of affordable accommodation for the people of the state, meaning that the state is ready to partner any individual or group interested in the arrangement.

“In order to provide infrastructure to our GRAs, we are ready to embark on partnership arrangement. So, whoever is prepared to embark on the infrastructure on our GRA should indicate interest so that we can have what we call land-swap arrangement,” explained Abdur-Raheem Abiodun, commissioner for lands, housing, and urban development.

The implication of this arrangement is that when an interested partner provides the infrastructure, government will give him part of the land so that the added value will be to the benefit of all the parties concerned.

Abiodun revealed that the state government was unhappy that many of the developers who secured allocations for GRA plots in the past had abandoned the sites, saying that it would revoke any land left unattended to by unserious developers.

He promised that government would release modalities for the sale of 38 housing units at the Calton Gate Estate, Akobo area of Ibadan.

“The state government has approved the sale of 38 units of semi-detached bungalows situated at Carlton Gate Estate, Akobo to interested civil servants and members of the public for N7.5 million; whoever is interested should visit the ministry to obtain the form,” he advised.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, quoted the commissioner as saying the issue would be handled on the basis of fairness, transparency, and accountability.

“In line with the spirit of this government, which has high regard for civil servants, we have assigned part of the units to civil servants. We will map out a strategy as to how it will be made available to them and the same thing with members of the public,” he assured.

The Oyo State commissioner also assured members of the public that the state government was prepared to do whatever it could to ensure that it had a variable land system where it could accommodate the interest of well-meaning members of this state,” he said.

He said that anyone that was interested in taking part in the administration of GRAs was welcome, adding however that they would ensure that they had only those who really meant business.

“We will give more on-the-spot reports on all other GRAs, especially those that we have visited this month. It’s an ongoing process; we have embarked on some visits and there some that we will do in time to come,” he disclosed.

Credit: Busineesdayng