May 3, (THEWILL) – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun’s housing initiative to transform Government Reserve Areas (GRAs) in the state into modern cities under the Ogun State Regeneration Scheme
The scheme involves redeveloping and reinventing dilapidated structures, especially those occupied by civil servants in the state since its creation in 1976, to create plots of land and modern housing units like Ikeja GRA and Banana Island in Lagos State, in order to give the state a new look.
GRAs that will witness transformation in the State Government housing regeneration scheme include Ibara GRA, Abeokuta – the starting point; Idi-Aba GRA, Abeokuta; Igbeba GRA, Ijebu-Ode, and Ilaro GRA, Yewa-Awori.
Obasanjo, while speaking on the initiative, however, urged the State Government to be transparent and fair to those who may want to buy a house or land when the scheme kicks off in Ibara GRA and also give out discounts to people purchasing two houses at once.
He urged the Dapo Abiodun-led Government to put in place amenities such as potable water, electricity and a good road network leading to the GRAs to attract prominent people to buy the lands and houses quickly for immediate transformation into modern GRAs.
The Olowo of Owu, Oba Saka I Matemilola, enjoined prominent sons and daughters of Owu, both home and abroad, as well as the people of the state to support Governor Abiodun’s GRA Regeneration Scheme and ensure they buy plots of land or houses when the new city, particularly Ibara GRA, is constructed.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Housing, Jagunmolu Omoniyi, said the State Government had engaged over 10,000 artisans in the construction of buildable plots of land of a minimum of 750sqm each and 5-bedroom detached duplexes with 2-room BQs and 4-bedroom semi-detached duplexes in the smart city GRAs.
