Ajimobi inaugurating the housing estate

GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State at the weekend inaugurated the first phase of a multi- million Naira Housing Estate in Ibadan, pledging that his administration would embark on infrastructural revolution in the state.
He used the opportunity to query the rationale behind the sale of government lands and quarters by some of his predecessors, whom he accused of selling such properties to their cronies at ridiculous prices.

The estate, christened “Olive Court” and located at Agodi GRA, is expected to accommodate 45 duplexes but had is first phase of 15 buildings completed within 18 months. The estate is furnished with facilities such as independent power supply, sewage system and water supply.

The project was a partnership between the state government and UPDC, a subsidiary of United African Company (UAC).

The governor said that the building of the estate was a further demonstration of his administration’s commitment to the rapid development of the state through the provision of necessary social and economic infrastructure for the people.

According to him, “This edifice is one of the legacy projects of this administration. It is the actualization of our dream for the physical infrastructural development of Oyo State. This state must continue to be developed. We are committed to actualizing the overall development of this state. A good leader must not only have dreams but must ensure that the dreams are actualized”.

Ajimobi said that the parcel of land where the newly inaugurated estate was constructed had only four buildings designated as Governor’s Guest Houses before they were pulled down to accommodate the project.

Instead of selling off choice government property at giveaway prices to satisfy alleged narrow and parochial interests, he said that the concerned governors should have considered the corporate interest of the state.

He added, “This is very unfortunate. Even the large expanse of land used for the construction of this estate had only four houses designated as Governor’s Guest Houses. How many guests are a governor expected to have that will occupy four houses? So instead of selling four quarters for N20 million each, we then said why don’t we look for a firm with quality that would convert them into a modern estate that would generate huge revenue for government; hence, our resolve to engage UPDC to partner with us in our housing revolution drive. Let me use this opportunity to invite more investors to embark on housing projects in other areas already identified across the state to take care of our current housing deficit.”

He said his administration was prepared to provide the enabling environment for other investors on its housing revolution and other projects that would be of socio-economic benefit to the citizens of the state.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of UAC, Mr. Akeem Oguniran, commended Ajimobi for his passion for the development of the state.

He said that most of the duplexes in the estate had already been bought, adding that some of the buyers had indicated their intention to occupy the new buildings in the first month of the new year.