The Chairman of the Oyo State Housing Corporation, Barrister Bayo Lawal, has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to come forward and discuss with the state government over its moribund quarters at the Owode Housing Estate in Apata, Ibadan, the state capital.
Lawal made this call on Wednesday during a visit to the estate in company of other top members of staff of the corporation.
He said “We have come on a visit to Owode Estate of Housing Corporation. Within this estate, we have a Central Bank quarters which was built in the 80s. And it’s a massive estate within our own estate. We observed that the buildings have become dilapidated. We observed that the structures are even very weak to the extent that I don’t know whether they can serve the purposes they were built for.
“Since this estate is within our own estate and it’s called Central Bank Housing scheme. I’m calling on the Central Bank to come quickly to discuss with us otherwise I will have this buildings demolished because they constitute security risk not only that they have become eyesore and they have distorted the aesthetic plan that we have for Owode estate.
“So I’m calling on Central Bank to come quickly, come over to us and discuss, otherwise we reserve the right to have this buildings demolished and we will convert the land to other useful purposes. Don’t forget the he who owns the Land owns everything on it. I’m going to apply that principle unless the Central Bank comes forward to discuss with us.”
Earlier, the former Attorney General visited the Agbowo Shopping complex for an on-spot assessment of the complex.
He said that the state government under the leadership of Engineer Seyi Makinde is prepared to transform the moribund Agbowo Shopping Complex to a modern shopping complex.
While telling the illegal occupants of the complex the need to leave, he also assured them proper reallocation of the complex after its renovation.
He said “I have moved round the edifice. Actually it’s nothing to write home about. We have a building of about 10 stairs unoccupied. It’s not just that it’s unoccupied but the situation inside in horrible. I have chatted with few people around the complex.
“I can see some value addition they are providing to the environment, if not for them, only God knows what would have turned into completely, but unsolicited, they are the watchmen and women of the complex. They make sure that miscreants do not take control of this edifice. There’s an agreement that whenever government wants to move in, they are ready to corporate with contractors.”
