The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, has revealed that the state’s housing projects generated 5,287 jobs in 2024.

He disclosed this on Tuesday at the ministerial press briefing marking Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office.

He said, “The quantum of construction activities undertaken by the housing sector generated engagement of direct and indirect job opportunities for about 13,749 citizens in Lagos State in the last 6 years. The jobs are spread among skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled labour categories.

“The total number of direct and indirect employment through Housing projects in 2024 is 5,287. The total number of households impacted through the Lagos State Housing Estate as at December 2024 is 28,507.”

According to the commissioner, the ministry has taken the capacity development of artisans in the built sector as a priority to further improve the quality of job delivery in all our construction sites.

“Over 500 artisans were retrained under the Master Craftsman Training Programme. The six-week programme, usually organised in collaboration with consultants and the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Board, was certified by the Nigerian Institute of Building.

“Subjects taught include plumbing and pipe work, masonry, painting and decoration, carpentry and furniture making, and electrical installations. The retrained craftsmen were issued certificates, start-up tools/equipment, and work gear. Also, there is an understanding that contractors and development partners will keep engaging the services of these trained artisans.”

Speaking on the recoveries made by the ministry, the commissioner noted that the ministry recovered N295m and 20 properties.

He said, “The agency also recovered funds amounting to the sum of N295,471,800 only. A total of 20 properties were recovered on behalf of third parties through a mediation process involving tenants, land buyers, fraudulent estate agents, land vendors, and property developers.

“The agency has the legislative right to explore Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms as a means to amicably settle real estate-related disputes before real estate cases are escalated to the enforcement Authority for detailed investigation and prosecution if required.

“Consequently, the number of cases received by the agency to date is 1,899, out of which 1,580 were mediated upon and 1,243 were successfully resolved. However, 23 were adjourned for further mediation, 147 cases were abandoned due to non-attendance at the sessions by parties involved, while 172 were referred to appropriate agencies. In addition, there are eight cases in courts (two in Federal High Court, three in State High Court, and three in Magistrate Court.”