NO GOVERNMENT-OWNED PROPERTY WILL BE ALLOWED TO LIE IN RUINS UNDER OUR WATCH – GOV AKEREDOLU
•Flags Off Construction Of Sunshine Apartments In Lagos
By: The Tochlight Africa News
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has flagged off the construction of the Sunshine Apartments at the state’s property located at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Governor Akeredolu explained that the property was acquired by the Ondo State Government during the regime of the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu.
He said the building served as the Governor’s Lodge and was used by the late Agagu until it was abandoned by the previous administration.
According to Governor Akeredolu, major structural defects were detected and the property became unsafe for human habitation.
“Of greater disturbance was the issue of legal disability concerning the title to the land. It was discovered that the title was defective. The State lost the property through a Supreme Court judgement which revoked its claim along with some other supposed owners of land within the estate.
“The State Government had no choice other than to approach the new owner of the land with a view to re-purchasing it. Mr. Layi Ajayi-Bembe agreed, graciously, to resell to us at a much discounted rate, thereby enabling the State to save as much as N90m,” the Governor explained.
Governor Akeredolu, who said his administration believes in prudent management of scarce resources in the interest of the people of the state, vowed that no government-owned property will be allowed to lie in ruins under his watch.
Describing the flag-off event as epochal, the Governor said it marks the continuation of his administration’s redemptive journey.
He said: “What is being witnessed today is a part of the fulfilment of our solemn pledge to the good people of Ondo State. We shall not partake of any venture or endeavour which seeks to offer the people the short end of the stick. Their interest will be protected at all times and in every way permissible.
“I must not fail to state clearly that the Sunshine Apartments will be owned, wholly, by the Ondo State Government, just as a seven-storey building in the Twin building of the Sunshine Plaza.
“At the completion of these projects, we would have added the sum of N4.5 billion to the asset base of the State from the hitherto abandoned properties. We can also safely project a combined rent of N310m yearly. We shall not relent in looking for other legitimate avenues of making our State become self-reliant.”
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Mr. Boye Oyewumi, described the project as another landmark achievement of the Akeredolu-led administration which would boost the internally generated revenue of the state.
Also, ONDIPA board member, Dr Olusegun Olugboyegun, declared that he is very proud of the Governor’s approach to governance, saying “this has brought a lot of hope not only to the State but the country.”
