BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke has expressed dissatisfaction at the poor state of the Governor’s Lodge in Lagos which was already converted to 18 self-serviced apartments.
The Governor who conducted a spot assessment of the property located at 18 Femi Okunnu Road, former Cooper Road, Ikoyi, on Monday described the housing complex as needing urgent facility upgrades and repairs.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the property which has 68 rooms as a Governor’s Lodge before its conversion was acquired by the first Executive Governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
Managed by the Osun State Investment Company Limited, the governor found a badly maintained housing complex without proper electricity and water supply as well as a generally run-down structure.
Governor Adeleke who engaged tenants at the complex expressed shock at the poor state of the housing complex despite records of payments of service charges by the residents.
It reads, “I cannot believe what I saw here. This is simply unacceptable. I was here when this complex served as a Governor’s Lodge. I am shocked at what it has become even with a specialized agency mandated to manage the place.
“The Committee I set up had briefed me on the poor state of most of the properties. The Osun house project in Abuja was abandoned and I had to hold a special meeting with the contractor on how to complete the project. For this Lagos housing estate, something urgent has to be done.
“Let me assure residents here that there will soon be a new lease of life. Alternative power supply will be looked into and a general uplift of the complex will soon be effected,” Governor Adeleke said.
While reaffirming the commitment of his administration to securing Osun assets wherever they may be, the state government promised to act on the recommendations of the state assets committee as it affects the state Investment Company that is in charge of the Lagos complex.