The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it had adopted measures against skyrocketing prices of building materials to ensure all contractors returned to the site for speedy completion of ongoing projects.

It said such would enhance its desire for affordable housing delivery.

The Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, during a facility tour of three estates under construction in Eti-Osa Local Government of the state, decried the slow pace of construction due to price fluctuations.

Mr Akinderu-Fatai said the price fluctuations due to forex and the rising cost of building materials would be resolved at the meeting with contractors and the governor.

The commissioner, accompanied by Abdulhafiz Toriola, the permanent secretary of the state’s Ministry of Housing and special adviser on housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, visited Sheridan, Sangotedo and Abraham Adesanya estates.

Mr Akinderu-Fatai said only 3,500 housing units had been delivered out of the government’s 7,000 planned targets. Hence, the tour to resolve all challenges slowing down construction works.

He listed challenges slowing down the pace of work on the sites, including infrastructure like roads and a higher rate of foreign exchange for building materials and manpower.

The commissioner assured that work would continue earnestly in all estates soon and more would be added to meet up the thousands of units promised by the governor for Lagos residents at affordable prices.

He promised that by May 2024, during Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s first-year anniversary in his second term, more schemes would be inaugurated.

Mr Akinderu-Fatai said high-quality standards were being upheld to avoid mistakes of the past, where some buildings constructed before Mr Sanwo-Olu’s administration were sinking and had to be rebuilt, citing Abraham Adesanya Estate as an example.

He said a meeting had been scheduled with the various contractors to allow price variation for serious contractors and to terminate contracts of the unserious ones that were not committed to meeting construction timelines.

Meanwhile, Ms Odunuga-Bakare spoke on regulating private estate providers through Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA)

She advised residents to approach LASRERA on all transaction issues to avoid being duped, promising to pursue the establishment of district offices in all the local governments to make it easier for residents to make enquiries and seek redress against infractions.

(NAN)