Kalejaiye appeals for relief for homeless 90-year-old man, tasks Sanwo-Olu on affordable housing
Akin Olayemi
A community head in Lagos state, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye has urged the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to see to the housing needs of residents in the State.
Kalejaiye noted that thousands of residents in the state are homeless while many have been forced to relocate due to the rising cost of rent on accommodation.
While applauding the collaboration between the Federal Government and Lagos State Government to addressing degeneration of infrastructure in federal housing estate situated in FESTAC town, Amuwo-Odofin area of the State, he appeals for the spread of similar gesture to other parts of the state.
He said, “It is worth commending that the Federal Government in partnership with the Lagos State Government is focusing on addressing the collapsing structures in some of the Federal Low Cost Housing Estate particularly the estate located in FESTAC town.
This is a step in the right direction. But I also want to task the government not to limit this move to FESTAC alone. The housing deficit in Lagos state affects larger percentage of residents in the state.
It has rendered many homeless and causes some to move out of Lagos and also causes separation in some families in a situation whereby a father working in Lagos but couldn’t afford to secure an apartment would have his wife and children living in another state.
This is the plight of many Lagosians and it is causing more destruction to their family lives. I want to appeal to the Lagos state Governor, Mr Sanwo-Olu to look beyond the rehabilitation of housing estates in Lagos state. His Excellency should also consider the low income earners and the indigent in the housing scheme of the state.”
Buttressing his standpoint with the case of a homeless 90-year-old man whose only building was illegally demolished in 1995 and has been rendered homeless since then, Kalejaiye said, “I equally want to draw the attention of Governor Sanwo-Olu to the plight of an old man, a 90-year-old man in my community. He had his only house demolished in 1995 by some ‘Omo-Onile’ who sold his land and thirteen others to a higher bidder.
Baba went to court to seek justice but between 1995 and 2020, he has been moving from one courtroom to another without any meaningful outcome.
Baba has been rendered homeless in his old age. He now lives in a shack in Otumara community exposed to cold and flooding. I am drawing the attention of Governor Sanwo-Olu to his case because the homeless Baba wants justice and also for him to address the rot in the judicial system of the state.”
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