20 years after, Abule-Nla residents get new flats

IT was a matter of ‘promise made, promised fulfilled’ to the residents of Jakande Estate, Abule-Nla, in Ebute Metta area of Lagos State as government last week, handed over six block of flats to them.

Their problems started in 1997, when the allottees noticed that six blocks of flats they occupied were cracking, with the possibility of total collapse.

After series of complaints to different administrations, starting from Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, a military administrator in Lagos and former governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not much was achieved.

However, on July 2007, the occupants sent a Save-our-Soul (SOS) letter to Governor Babatunde Fashola with copies of all the previous letters, upon which he acted promptly by sending the files to the officials in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, for thorough investigation and inspection of the building.

After thorough investigation, Fashola gave approval for the Ministry of Housing to rebuild the affected blocks that were eventually completed early April 2015.

Expressing their gratitude at the handing over ceremony, representatives of the estate thanked the governor for what they described as “promise made, promise fulfilled”.

Beneficiaries include Mr. J.A. Badejo, Mr. L.F. Jegede, Mr.A. Iyanda, Mr. C. Osayemi, Mr. F. Itoadon, and Mr. A.A Gbadegesin. “On 7th Jan., 2009 the Governor gave his first approval to the Lagos State Development and Building Corporation (LSDPC), to rebuild the block, but due to some logistics problem it could not be possible until 3rd April, 2013 after series of protocols accompanied by hindrances”.

“The Governor thereafter, directed the Lagos State Ministry of Housing to rebuild the block and the result is what we witnessing today”, said Mr. Gbadegesin Olaseinde, who spoke for the allottees. Speaking on the gesture, the Permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr. Odunlami Olatunji, a town Planner, urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the infrastructure.