From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo has declared his support for the initiative of the Ogun State government to holistically transform the Government Reservation Areas (GRAs) across the state to bring back the faded glory.
Oba Gbadebo made this declaration when the management team of the Ogun State Ministry of Housing led by the Commissioner, Jamiu Akande Omoniyi, paid a courtesy visit to the Alake’s Palace, to intimate the Egba Traditional Council on GRA Regeneration Programme.
Alake, who expressed his delight about the project promised to rally Egba indigenes both home and in the diaspora to buy into the new scheme.
“I am very excited today because of the project you brought to me; you can count on my support. I just don’t support, but I realised the development that the project will bring to Egbaland. I’m sure with the location of the project, the housing units to be built will be over-subscribed”, the traditional ruler stated.
The monarch, however, implored the Ogun State government to allocate the Third Phase of the Prince Court Estates in Kobape and Kemta Idi -Aba, Abeokuta, to the remaining successful applicants.
Addressing members of the Traditional Council members earlier, the Commissioner for Housing, Jamiu Akande Omoniyi, reeled out the successes recorded by the incumbent administration in the provision of affordable housing to the people of the state, saying the positive response received from people prompted the government to continue to build more for various categories.
He emphasised that the new GRA Regeneration Scheme is meant to create a modern, vibrant smart city.
“The programme is not merely about demolishing and reconstructing, it will bring a total transformation geared towards enhancing economic value of the state. Save for unforeseen circumstances, the project should be completed within 18 months.
“The project when commenced will also create employment benefits with the engagement of artisans within the host communities”, Omoniyi stated.
Responding respectively on behalf of the Egba Traditional Council, the duo of Asiwaju Onimoro and Onimoro of Egbaland, Chiefs Tokunbo Odebunmi and Adeniyi Akanni, appreciated the state government under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun for taking the bull by the horn with the GRA Regeneration Scheme, advising the government to be transparent about the project.