Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State mentioned that the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and their 37 Local Council Development Area affiliates “are working effectively well.”
On Tuesday, Sanwo-Olu, while inaugurating a twin housing project in Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, emphasized that his primary responsibility is to “encourage and support” council chairmen to achieve more positive outcomes.
The two inaugurated projects, Raymond Estate with 170 units and Sterling Heights, were completed by the council chairman, Dele Oshinowo, as part of efforts to revitalize and modernize Ajelogo—a notorious slum in the council area known for its high crime rate.
These developments were accomplished through a Joint Venture Partnership with a private developer.
Raymond Estate consists of 32 three-bedroom apartments, 16 four-bedroom apartments, and 16 two-bedroom apartments.
Sterling Heights, in contrast, features 64 flats across eight blocks, along with 32 terraced houses and 10 semi-detached units.
Sanwo-Olu, during the project unveiling, referred to the initiatives as “an affirmation” of the independence exercised by Local Government Areas in Lagos. He emphasized that the Agboyi-Ketu council chairman had demonstrated responsibility in managing governance and advancing development at the grassroots level.
The Governor said: “This is another visible evidence that Local Government Areas and their LCDA appendages are working effectively well in Lagos. Today, we are handing over brand new housing projects to our citizens, which are two estates in one premises. The chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA has successfully regenerated what used to be an ungoverned space and a den of criminals.
“The council has set a new trajectory and has reversed what we saw as a liability to an asset. I commend Dele Oshinowo for showing public accountability. Before Local Government autonomy came back on the front burner, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was our Governor, had set the foundation to ensure successive Local Government administrations in Lagos are transparently run autonomously.
“Resources available to our Local Government Areas are now being utilised properly to deliver quality dividends of democracy to the populace. There is no better job for me than to continue to encourage and support my council chairmen for more good jobs. Our councils have become shining examples for others in the country. We will continue to provide an enabling environment for governments at the grassroots to thrive.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized that his administration’s objective is to place Lagos on a permanent path of progress in areas such as housing, healthcare, education, tourism, public transportation, and infrastructure.
He also mentioned that his government would maintain its support for youth-focused skill development initiatives and commended the council leaders in Lagos for aligning with the State Government’s youth development goals.
Senator Tokunbo Abiru, who represents Lagos East in the National Assembly, praised the projects as a product of innovation and dedication to grassroots governance.
“What we are seeing is continuous progress in all nooks and crannies of the State. The benefits of projects like this are enormous and transformative because they bring about quality of life and make citizens feel the impacts of our Government. These schemes will boost the local economy and will contribute significantly to the socio-economic growth of the State,” Abiru said.
Oshinowo mentioned that his administration’s housing initiative was being implemented through the council’s Property and Investment Board (PIB), emphasizing that the goal was to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by offering affordable, accessible, and high-quality housing.
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The council leader also revealed a digital property registry, which offers complete documentation of the LCDA’s real estate holdings, along with records of allottees, subscribers, and general information about the housing projects.
He said: “I must emphasise that our administration has initiated the second phase of the Greenwich Gardens project and has also concluded the Technical Review Phase for Lagos Homes in Ajelogo Area.
“Our infrastructure development drives to enhance human capital and stimulate economic growth. These housing projects have generated direct and indirect employment opportunities, particularly benefiting the youth and artisans in our council.”
