Ogun Govt Earmarks Over N3bn For Housing Projects In 2023

Ogun State Government has earmarked N3.074bn for provision of 

affordable houses for members of the public through new housing development schemes in the next fiscal year

The State  Commissioner for Housing, Jagunmolu Jamiu Omoniyi disclosed this while defending the 2023 budget estimate of the Ministry before  members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation led by Hon. Olakunle Sobukanla at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta

He explained that N2.99bn would be spent on  capital projects while  N74.9m was voted for recurrent expenditure, with N1.66m expected as revenue

Omoniyi stated that the Ministry also plans to repair and rehabilitate public buildings, public schools, existing markets across the 20 Local Government Areas, as well as construct additional 2-3 bedroom bungalow apartments across the three Senatorial Districts in the next fiscal year.

In a related development, the General Manager, State Housing Corporation, ESV. Wale Ojo disclosed that the Corporation had earmarked a total of N1.25bn for the construction of at least 128 housing facilities of different plans including, 30 units of semi-detached bungalow and 42 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached, among others. 

ESV. Ojo explained that the construction of the projects was based on the demand for housing with a view to reducing housing deficit; creating affordable shelter for the people, especially the middle class.

 He added that the Corporation's budget objectives in the next fiscal year was to strengthen collaboration with other allied agencies, towards retaining the strides in the Housing sector of the State. 

Meanwhile, the Lawmakers also considered the 2023 budget estimates of the State Ministry of Commerce and Industry as presented by the Commissioner, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe, who proposed a total budget expenditure of N976.3m for the next fiscal year.

Giving the breakdown of the budget proposal, Longe revealed that the total of N419.3m would be set aside for capital expenditure, while the sum of N556.9m was earmarked for recurrent, with over N2bn expected as revenue for the government.

The Commissioner assured that the Ministry would embark on more infrastructure development of the industrial parks in the State and source Public-Private Partnership, development as well as promote entrepreneurship and all round development of Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises (MSME).

On its part, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development assures that it would conduct physical planning and socio-economic surveys with a view to ensuring equitable population distribution, growth and sustainable development across the State.

The  State Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, TPL. Tunji Odunlami said the Ministry planned to expend a total of N566.7m next year, out of which N556.7m would go for capital projects, while N10m was being set aside for recurrent expenditure.

 The State Civil Service Commission led by the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi, the Office of the Head of Service represented by the Permanent Secretary, Service Matters, Mr. Dahunsi Ogunleye, the Ministry of Justice, the State Judiciary, State High Court, Judicial Service Commission, as well as the State Customary Court of Appeal also defended their budget proposals before the lawmakers.