The Present Administration recorded a number of achievements in the various Departments making up the Ministry of Lands and Housing. Without doubt, the liberalization of issuance of Certificate of Occupancy and the provision of low-cost houses in the three senatorial districts hallmark the achievements of the Saraki Administration in the Housing sector.

The Mandate I and II Housing Estates, which started in Year 2004 have been completed with all infrastructural facilities already put in place. It was commissioned by Vice President Atiku Abubakar last year and all the housing units in Mandate I Housing Estate have already been allocated to people. A loan of N500million has been secured from the National Housing Fund, being managed by Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria for the proposed Mandate III housing units of 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom bungalows.

In order to ensure even development of the State in the area of housing, the State Government embarked on the construction of 35 no 2- bedroom Low-Cost bungalows in Kwara South and Kwara North Senatorial districts. In addition, about 360 residential and commercial plots were prepared for interested members of the public in different locations in the State. Both the Oja Oba De-congestion project and the Kulende Market Project, which consists of 133 shops, have almost been completed in readiness for commissioning soonest.

Appropriate measures have been put in place by the present Administration to facilitate the issuance of Right of Occupancy, in addition to the conducive environment already provided for the activities of investors in the State. Unlike in the past when Certificates of Occupancy took eternity to be issued, applicants could have their Certificates of Occupancy within two weeks of application. The enabling environment has greatly encouraged private developers to be partners in progress with the State Government in the area of housing development. As part of efforts to ensure development, the embargo placed on the issuance of Certificate of Temporary Occupancy (CTO) has been lifted.

In the Lands Department, a total number of 1,353 applications for residential plots/housing were registered from which a sum of Nl,090,755.00 was realized as application fees; a sum of N23,334,441.50 was collected as premium fees while 342 Right of Occupancy Certificates were issued.

In the area of subsequent transaction, 78 applications for assignment were processed; 28 Mortgage issues were lodged with a sum of N52,000.00 realized as application fees; a sum of N3,300,255.00 was realized from the 61 applications for mortgage that were approved.

At the lands registry, 100 documents were registered fetching the State Government a sum of N2,453,475.00; 66 searches were conducted, with a sum of N20,500.00 realized; 117 Certificates of Occupancy were signed by the Governor before the responsibility was shifted to the office of the Attorney-General.

Under the fast tracking, 3 Certificates of Occupancy were signed and a sum of N825,000 was realized; a sum of N3,800,000.00 was collected on Certificates of Occupancy Bills; 3 certified true Copy Certificates were issued with a sum of N15,000 realized; 217 Certificates of Occupancy were ready for the Attorney General's signature while a total sum of N2,303, 772. 70 was collected as ground rent within a period of nine months.

The other activities of the Lands Department during the period include Valuations of assignment, which were 68 in number; one Asset Valuation; Valuation for Compensation, three in number and two special Valuations which fetched the Government a sum of N37,500.00 as revenue from valuation fees.

Two new major sites were acquired for waste disposal at Gbagede and Kwara Commercial Farmers, Tsonga district, in Edu Local Government Area.

The Ilorin Area Office generated a sum of N299,831.34 as revenue, excluding application form for Mortgage and Assignment, while a total sum of N38,475,549.78 was generated into Government Coffers by the Lands Department during the period under review.

The Town Planning Department prepared Gbagede, Kulende Residential Layout, IIorin; the Residential Layout along Transit Camp road (T.P .0. 260) and Residential Layout at Ganmo (T.P .0. 245) with plots of land earmarked for supporting facilities like schools, banks police posts and petrol station within the layouts. Over 500 residential plots have been made available to the people of the State on these layouts.

The Department participated in the designing of the new Housing Estate at Adewole (Mandate), which comprises about 350 one-bedroom and two-bedroom housing units now completed and ready for allocation to interested members of the public.

In line with the Present Administration's commitment towards the upliftment of the physical development of IIorin, the State Capital and other major towns, necessary machinery has been set in motion for the review of the IIorin Master plan. The numbering of the 250 housing units at Irewolede Housing Estate in IIorin was carried out by the Department before they were allocated to the successful Winners.

The Building Services Department, which is charged with the responsibility of designing, costing Bills of Quantities and supervising all Government Building Projects, was involved in many projects and activities in the past three years. These include design, costing and supervision of 100 one bedroom and 100 two bedroom sandcrete housing units, including infrastructural facilities; supervision of 100 one-bedroom and 50 two- bedroom hydra form housing units including infrastructure; financial appraisal and vetting, precedent to commencement of construction of proposed Modern Abattoir Complex for Ministry of Agriculture; Financial assessment and vetting of the proposed industrial Estate at Elekoyangan with Ministry of Industry and Solid Minerals as the client Ministry; supervision and modification/renovation of speaker's official residence; design, costing and supervision of construction of Hostel Blocks and Principal's quarters for Ministry of Social welfare; design of Marriage Registry for Ministry of Social Welfare; supervision of renovation work at the Stadium Complex with Ministry of Sports and Youth Development as Client Ministry; supervision of renovation work at Kwara Furniture Company, Ilorin and supervision of Judiciary buildings.

The other activities include supervision of landscaping of the Ilorin metropolis; preparation of design and cost Estimate/Bills of Quantities for Management Development Centre; Vetting, design and preparation of cost estimate for the proposed buildings for rice processing and destoning equipment; preparation of design and cost estimate for the proposed 100 No 2-Bedroom housing units to be constructed at four locations, including Omu- Aran, Kaiama and Lafiagi as well as preparation of design and cost estimate for the Proposed Cashew Processing Industry at Ogbondoroko.

The perimeter and detailed survey of Government House, the State Guest House Extension, the recreation Park, the land set aside for Rehabilitation of Destitute at Amayo and Integrated Waste Management Facility at Gbagede Village among others, have been carried out. The layout survey of Phases I and II of Adewole Estate site and the new Residential layout behind the Mandate House; Survey of other smaller layouts; individual sites and various sites for organizations and companies have been successfully carried out.

During the period under review, various issues bordering on access blockage, encroachment and drainage problems were mutually resolved by the Ministry of Lands and Housing.