The Oyo State Housing Corporation is set to commission 250 housing units and four sites and service centers across the state in September, the Chairman of its Governing Board, Hon. Ademola Omotosho has disclosed.
Omotosho, a former chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, made the disclosure during a weekend radio programme, ‘Gbangbalasanta’, on Splash FM, Ibadan, hosted by Abiodun Adewole, popularly known as Mr. Double A.
He said the 250 housing units represented the first phase of the corporation’s current housing development efforts, adding that the corporation was also preparing several sites and service centres for commissioning within the same period.
“We are ready to deliver to the needs of the people of Oyo State. The first phase of the number of units will be ready in September, which is 250 units,” Omotosho said.
According to him, the sites and service centres to be commissioned include locations around Ajoda, Kasumu and Owode Estate in the Apata area of Ibadan.
Omotosho stressed that the activities of the Oyo State Housing Corporation were not restricted to Ibadan, explaining that the corporation had commenced efforts to expand housing development to other parts of the state, particularly the Oke-Ogun axis.
He said the corporation recently embarked on a tour of its estates and proposed housing locations in Oke-Ogun, where it held meetings with local government chairmen to identify challenges affecting housing development in the areas.
“We realised that we have issues we must find a way around and that will bring about solutions. When we found this out, we approached the local governments. You are closer to your people; let’s do business,” he said.
The chairman explained that the corporation was exploring partnerships with local governments, including arrangements involving land contributions, while the local authorities would also help protect and monitor the lands.
He added that the corporation is working with the local governments to develop housing units in their respective areas, noting that memoranda of understanding would be signed in the communities rather than exclusively in Ibadan.
Omotosho said the corporation had also partnered with private developers on some of its housing projects. According to him, the Ajoda project involved about five different developers, while the corporation had signed agreements with other developers for projects at Owode.
He disclosed that the Owode project covered more than 25 hectares of land, although the corporation would not develop the entire area at once.
He, however, said the essential infrastructure and development required to establish the area as an estate would be completed and ready for commissioning by the end of September.
The development, he said, was part of the corporation’s broader effort to increase access to housing and serviced land for residents across Oyo State through collaboration with local governments and private developers.
