REDAN urges FG to provide infrastructure for rapid estate development
NAN-H-26
Infrastructure
By Ella Anokam
Abuja, Feb. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has urged the Federal Government to ensure the provision of necessary infrastructure that would accelerate estate development across the country.
Dr Aliyu Wamakko, the National Deputy President of REDAN, made the call on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abuja.
Wamakko was reacting to the complaints of residents of some of the estates in the Federal Capital Territory on lack of basic amenities to make life comfortable for them.
The expert noted that lack of infrastructure for the development of estate was a major setback in the nation’s socio-economic development, saying it is imperative for the government at all levels to prioritise infrastructure.
“Access road, electricity and water supply are the sole responsibility of the government to provide and not the developer’s responsibility.
“But within the estate, the developer is expected to provide minimal infrastructure by creating road network, water and electricity supply so that every household would be connected.
“If the government can provide infrastructure in Maitama and Asokoro Districts what stops the government from providing the same infrastructure at the Satellite towns in the FCT,” he asked.
He recalled that the FCT Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Bello had promised in 2017 that the government would look into the provision of infrastructure in the Satellite towns and other affected places.
Wamakko, who is the owner of JEDO Estate, located in Lugbe suburb, on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport road, Abuja, noted that nothing has been done by the government in that aspect.
“For instance, the JEDO estate is about 1.8km away from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport highway, Abuja, it is the responsibility of the government to provide infrastructure in that area to encourage development.
“The government has not done anything on that, I connected the estate to the national electricity grid.
“The government is not doing anything to make sure that life becomes easier for estate residents; the developers provide the houses and also network facility inside.
According to him, in the JEDO Estate, there is a provision of 80,000 litres of overhead water tank for the residents but unfortunately everybody wanted to have his or her own water supply by digging borehole.
“There is a facility manager, who collects a token fee of facility maintenance from the residents at the end of the month for the estate upkeep.
Meanwhile, some of the residents of the JEDO Estate have regretted the condition of the road connecting the estate to the highway.
They said the deplorable situation of the road was affecting vehicular movement and other socio-economic activities in the area.
Mr Shegun Oluyole, a civil servant, appealed to the FCT Administration to intervene urgently by providing the necessary amenities such as access road needed by the estate residents.
“If the issues concerning the access road of the estate and other estates that needed urgent intervention should be addressed, the residents would live happily,’’ he said. (NAN)
ELLA/OSA/AFA
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Felix Ajide