Yemi Olakitan
In a bid to revamp disused government buildings, the Federal Government has announced plans to convert the abandoned federal secretariat in Ikoyi, Lagos, into luxury apartments. This initiative is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration efforts to modernize unused government buildings across the state.
According to Housing and Urban Development Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, the project aims to reduce the housing deficit in Lagos. The minister revealed that the Federal Government has reached a tripartite agreement with the Lagos State government and Dr. Wale Babalakin, Chairman of Resort International Limited, to facilitate the project.
Dangiwa said: “We will talk to the Lagos State government and Dr. Wale Babalakin (Chairman of Resort International Limited) in the public interest. I believe the building (former federal secretariat) should revert to the Federal Government though we can buy him out of the concession.
“The state government is asking for the right of first refusal, but I believe our proposed tripartite agreement will readily come to the rescue to resolve the impasse, going forward.”
The abandoned federal secretariat, unused since the capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja in 1991, was initially leased to Resort International Limited in 2006 for redevelopment into 480 luxury apartments. However, the project was disrupted by the Lagos State government in 2007 due to disputes over land ownership and usage.
Minister Dangiwa emphasized that the Federal Government is considering a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to invite investors to build, recoup their investment, and return the property to the government. This approach is expected to supplement the government’s budgetary allocation, which is insufficient to meet the ministry’s housing requirements.
The Federal Government also plans to deliver 2,000 units of the Renewed Hope housing project in Lagos within the next few months, with subsequent projects in Kano and Abuja. Professionals from the ministry will supervise the contractors to ensure quality workmanship.
