Over 200 qualified applicants of the Ogun State Government Housing Scheme phase III, named Prince Court Estate along Kobape have again rejected the provision to add the sum of ₦3,500,000 to the ₦5, 500,000 already paid since 2021.
They are asking how and where they would be able to get such an amount within the 60 days given to them to do so.
The rejection which was contained in a statement signed by, Olumuyiwa Oludaisi urged Governor Dapo Abiodun-led government to stop playing “undue tricks with innocent applicants who paid the amount the government charged in 2020/2021” describing such an act as “inconsistent, irresponsible and fraudulent.”
He stated that the reaction was coming on the heels of a letter dated July 1st (Monday), 2024 and signed by the Commissioner for Housing, Jagunmolu Akande Omoniyi demanding that the sum of ₦3,500,000 will be added within 60 days as a contribution for provision of infrastructural facilities in the estate failure of which the subscribers stand the risk of forfeiting the allocation.
The applicants alleged that there is a shift in the position of the government not to allocate the phase lll houses to the 235 legitimate subscribers published earlier as qualified in 2022, but their ploy is to re-sell to the highest bidders after using their money to build the estate.
Oludaisi who thanked Governor Dapo Abiodun for allocating 110 houses to applicants out of the 235 qualified applicants after three years of payment to the government coffers stated that the Governor should be magnanimous enough to allocate houses to the remaining subscribers and remove the said additional fee, as it was never part of the agreement.
He added that the government must be responsible and stop the politics on innocent applicants as it is clear that those 110 applicants allocated houses would automatically lose it upon their failure to pay N3.5millon while such lost allocation would be given to their cronies who are not qualified for such low-cost scheme.
According to the statement, “the 235 applicants are surprised to see what the Dapo Abiodun led government called ‘a proviso’ to add the sum of ₦3,500, 000 within 60 days as a contribution for provision of infrastructural facilities in the estate failure of which the allocation would be forfeited, as this was never part of our agreement in 2021.
“The agreement was to buy forms for the allocations for ₦5,000 with each house costing ₦5,500,000 and a rebate for retired civil servants who were asked to pay ₦4,950,000 which were duly paid for in years 2020 and 2021 respectively.
“The agreement was to give us 2 bungalow semi-detached shell houses to be roofed, plastered outside with external casement windows, entrance and exit doors, painted outside with grey colour and with basic infrastructure facilities exactly as allocated to both phase 1 and 2.
“Having fulfilled our own part of the bargain by duly paying fully in 2021, we were not responsible for the delay in allocation or hike in the price of building materials.
“Thus, It is quite clear that the government’s abandonment, delay and non-allocation on time caused the price variation, the reason the Dapo Abiodun-led administration must take responsibility for its failure to meet their side of the bargain.
“Since all applicants paid at the same time and we were divided into 3 phases (based on criteria known to them), while 2 phases had been given shelter with basic facilities, why is all of us in this 3rd category being exempted for this kind of punishment, cheating and arm twisting?
“We decry such increment in all forms and we are not ready to add any more money. Some of us paying to the Gateway Mortgage Bank are paying with interest from the loan we took to upset the ₦5.5 million.
“While we thank Governor Dapo Abiodun for allocating houses to 110 people. We want to humbly ask him to remember the remaining applicants and promptly allocate to them.
“We also want to appeal to him to remove the additional 3.5 million naira added as we reject such payment which was never part of our agreement. He must remember that his name would either be written in gold or mud depending on his act.
“What legacy is he leaving behind? How can low-cost housing for citizens turn to such fraudulent practice?
“We once again wish to set the records straight and appeal to the Dapo Abiodun-led government in Ogun state and the Ministry of Housing to be aware that we vehemently reject the N3.5million addition in the Prince Court Estate, it is a breach of trust after meeting our side of the bargain.
“It should be noted that the transaction in itself is a concluded deal, since about 3 years ago. Information has it that the commissioner in the ministry is behind the mess as he is the one assuring the governor that nothing would happen, thus the House of Assembly should summon him.
“After using our money to build, any increment from 5.5 million naira to 9 million naira as stated by the ministry for housing or refund at this time would amount to fraud, arm twisting and cheating and this in no small measure would reduce the confidence and trust in the government of Ogun State.
“We are calling on well-spirited Nigerians, activists, the media and other stakeholders to come to our aid and save us from this daylight robbery.”
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