How we got mortgage houses in Lagos — Allotees

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI LAST week, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state presented keys to the first set of successful allotees of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, Lagos HOMS, it was all smiles for the allotees who could not believe their good fortune. With 200 new homes on offer, the second draw under the scheme was conducted last weekend where another set of 35 successful allotees emerged. So far, about 110 successful allotees have emerged. Allotees’ account: An allotee, Mr. Amos Kimeh Omodunni, explained that he was in his office when the televised draw was being held and he had to run to one of the adjoining offices to watch the event. According to him: “Incidentally my name was picked for a three bedroom flat, which got me very excited. Though I have always had this reservation about the system, the present Mortgage Scheme has reinvigorated me and my fellow winners on the efficacy and efficiency of the Lagos state government. “We are very strong advocates of the transparency and fairness that we now know are the bedrock of this particular scheme. We sing it high and loud everywhere we go, to our friends, to our neighbours and colleagues, people around us. “I will again say, go and apply, it is real, you don’t need to know anybody, just send in your application and you can become a home owner”, he added. Another excited allotee in company of her son, Mrs Yetunde Awopeju, who works with Atlas Technical Services Limited, commended Fashola whose foresight she said had come to the fore with the scheme. “From what used to be a condemned location and night club in Surulere, a beautiful estate has risen. I am very happy to be a beneficiary of the Shitta Housing estate. I never thought I would be a house owner in Lagos let alone the ease with which it came . It’s really a wonderful experience.” Mr. Daniel Ikpe, a staff of Zenith Bank Plc, recounted how he became aware of the process through the social media network, saying, “All I say is that the programme is very transparent.” He said one does not require knowing any influential person before he can become a home owner in Lagos. “Once one can fulfil all the requirements, one is sure to get his home allocation.” Other successful allotees who got keys include: Mrs Abdulmalik Rukiat, Mr Ademola Odujoko, Mr. Ejiroghene Torishedu Madedor, Mrs Yetunde Oluwaseun Awopeju, Mr Ajayi Omotayo Jubril, Mrs Ganiyat Dolapo Akanni, Mr Gbenga Owolabi, Mr Chukwuneta John Paul Ogbatwi, Mrs Bibian Aloba Kanayo and Mr Ikpeh Daniel Darligton. Speaking on the scheme, Fashola, charged those who have tried the process and have seen the transparency and efficiency to become ambassadors for the scheme. “A prospective allotee does not need to know anyone but just needs to engage with the website of the Lagos HOMS scheme. “We are committed to providing a minimum of 200 homes every month. This is the second month that we have kept our promise. From very modest beginning, our people have started to demonstrate that this is possible”, he said. Need for more land: It is worthy to note that in some of the estates there were less applicants than the homes that were available. In Igbogbo where there were 20 homes available, only one applicant successfully met the condition and automatically won one of the homes. In Ojokoro, there were 16 homes available; only three applicants met the pre-qualification conditions. Prequalified applicants Similarly, in Odoragushin, Epe there were 20 homes on offer but only three pre-qualified applicants and they were all successful. In Abijo Chois Gardens, there were 20 homes of two bedrooms available, only one applicant was successfully pre-qualified which made him an automatic winner. In Agege, there were 11 homes and 26 applicants. So a draw was inevitable, some winners emerged. From the records, according to the governor; “Shitta seems to be the oversubscribed scheme thus indicating to the state government that it must look at that area again and see if it can find more land to build more homes.” He informed that government had already awarded the housing scheme in Obele Oniwala which is not far from Shitta with the prospect of creating opportunity for those who were unsuccessful in Shitta to look forward towards Obele when completed. He stressed that from a modest beginning Nigerians have started to demonstrate that home ownership is possible but that it requires constant update of records of all financial transactions and payment of taxes. The successful allotees and their flats in the second draws conducted are: for Chois Gardens, Abijo-2 Bedroom Flat, Mrs Olatunbosun, Temitope, Chois Gardens, Abijo-3 Bedroom flat- Ajibero, Babaniyi John (Mr), Ogundimu, Akinola. A. Oluwatoyin (Mr), Okonkwo, Uchechukwu Chukwuma (Mr) and Okubanjo Adetola Raliat (Mrs) while at the Hon Olaitan Mustapha Estate, Ojokoro -3Bedroom flat the lucky allotees were Adeneye Olufunsho Modinat (Miss), Olaniran Emmanuel Oluwashola (Mr) and Onche, Samuel Adonduwa (Mr). Adegboruwa estate For the 2 Bedroom flat at Oba Adegboruwa Estate, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, the only allotee is Ibidapo Kudirat Sola (Mrs) while at the 3 Bedroom flats at Oba Lateef Adams Estate,Iloro, 11 people were selected namely, Adebari Iskilu Adekunle (Mr), Okandeji Adetolu Oladoyibo (Mrs), Ihejirika, Oluremi Funmi (Mrs), Adisa Adebukola Olufunlola (Mrs), Ojuawo Martins Adeseko (Mr), Williams Ayobode Akintunde (Mr). Others include Arokodare Abiodun Omowunmi (Mrs), Adereti Adebayo Babatunde(Mr & Mrs) –Co Applicants, Falope, Oluwaseun Judah (Mr), Olaniyi Oyebode Olanrewaju (Mr) and Mohammed Abubakar Abdullahi (Mr) For the 2 Bedroom flat at the Sir Michael Otedola Estate, Epe-, the lucky winners are Ajayi Adeola Kolade (Mrs), Ariole Victor Chiagozie (Mr), Akinrodoye Perpetua Mosebolatan (Mrs) while for the Shitta Scheme-1 Bedroom flat, Braie Evelyn Kuburat (Miss), Ibrahim Olalekan Musibau(Mr), Shitta Scheme -2 Bedroom, Mr. Abusango Oluseye Dolapo, Ms Oliyide Folasade Olubunmi, Mrs Adekusibe Olubukola, Mr Omakogwu Ihene, Apara Ademorayo Anuoluwapo (Mrs) were successful. At Shitta Scheme-3 Bedroom flat, the successful allottees are Folaji Olatunde Isaac (Mr), Ajagunna Adebola Idris (Mr), Kolapo Jolayemi Sikirat (Mrs), Obilo, Chiyenre Ada(Mrs), Olowolagba Bodunrin Omosuyi (Mr).