A notable track record.

The opportunity to leave indelible steps.

These describe Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola; from what he is known for in the Vehicle Inspection Service/Ministry of Transportation to his present position in the Ministry of Housing.

There are rising challenges in the housing sector, homelessness is a big issue rippling into criminality and drug abuse.

Inundated by the daily reports, Environmental Lagos Platform felt a need to engage with the government on real estate.

Believing the Permanent Secretary would have present oversight functions of LASRERA, we sought a visit.
What we gained was a nestling of LASRERA and the Ministry of Housing, with insights into government efforts on the issues of housing.

After the rounds of introduction, we raised questions on efforts to arrest the rising wave of rent increment and its attendant issues, status of the proposed tenancy bill, mortgage in Lagos, etc.

The Permanent Secretary revealed multi-prong efforts by the Ministry and LASRERA.

As a believer in sustainable legacy, standardization of government estates was an initial step in ensuring a value-added system for residents of those estates. Regulations, maintenance routes and proper facility management, etc, were put in place.

We learnt how LASRERA has initiated satellite offices in parts of the state; in order to bring services closer to the citizens and thus reduce the spate of illegal agents’ activities.
About 5 of these zonal offices are in place, with more coming soon.

In order to entrench the drive of the ministry in ridding the sector of fraudulent actors in real estate, collaborations with EFCC, LASCOPA, etc, are in place.

This is alongside continuous stakeholders engagements with CDCs and other real estate bodies, so as to reiterate the laws of the state and guide activities in housing/real estate.

The PS revealed commendable proactive measures being put together to address the issue of homelessness and how Lagos is preparing for further influx, despite being the state with the smallest land mass in Nigeria.

The crime and drug abuse issues were also getting attention, as more activities are being carried out on abandoned buildings and buildings of concern in communities.

We were assured of synergy with the House of Assembly on the proposed tenancy bill and that it would give balance to both tenants and landlords; contrary to fear of lopsidedness in some sectors.

Gifting us with materials on activities of the ministry and appurtenances, Engr. Toriola commended ELP for its activities as a partner in progress.

Our recommendations were noted and the meeting ended with a mutuality to look at more collaborative grounds, as government and citizens must work together for affordable and convenient housing in Lagos State.