Emmanuel Ukudolo l Saturday, February 11, 2017
VICTORIA ISLAND, Lagos, Nigeria – Residents of Nigeria’s prime estate, 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos have sacked the maintenance committee saddled with the responsibility of managing the estate over poor maintenance culture, rapid detereoration of infrastructure and lack of transparency.
The committee is led by Mr. Tayo Soetan. Other members of the sacked committee includes Ochuko Akposibure, Vice Chairman, Mrs Sade Babatunde, Mr. Ehiosu Oviawe and Mrs. Femi Romiluyi.
The estate once the pride of Nigeria, and reserved for top public servants is now a shadow of itself, even after it was sold to UACN Properties and renovated during the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as President of Nigeria.
The estate has a central supermarket, two gates leading in and out, lawn tennis courts, functional lift, a standby generator, waste silos in each block, churches, mosque, a security and maintenance office, a club house, well laid out streets with lighting, beautiful lawns and drainages, all of which make the estate the envy of many, all managed then by 1004 Estate Limited.
But it seems all those good days are gone. To reverse the trend, residents decided to terminate the contract of the maintenance committee, House Owners and Residents Association (HORA)
The meeting, co-chaired by Mr. Tayo Soetan also called for dissolution of the Estate Board Of Trust (BOT) headed by Chief Dele Ogedengbe, and called on the members of the Board to vacate office immediately.
The inhabitants of the famous estate stated in their meeting at the Club House that the Maintenance Committee named House Owners and Residents Association (HORA), has failed in its ultimate responsibility of providing value for money.
Another reason adduced by the residents of the estate for sacking the committee was expiration of tenure of current HORA’s executive. The tenure of the executive expired January 30, 2017.
Residents also accused the Soetan led-committee of arbitrary increase in power tarrif without consultation; lack of transparency and accountability; bad water supply; and inability to provide befitting children’s playing ground.
At the meeting, the concerned and aggrevied residents also sacked a power supply company, IG4 Power Limited, an electricity firm in charge of power supply, which they claimed belongs to one Mr. Owumi Ikomi, who is a tenant in the estate, for what they called exorbitant charges of N100 per k/watt.
Residents also inaugurated an eight-man caretaker committee, which will be in office for 60 days before the appointment of new maintenance management.
In January 2016, a Lagos High court granted an injunction returning the management of the Estate to 1004 estates ltd. But HORA and 1G4 Power Limited failed to comply with the court order.
The vast Majority of the residents at the meeting were of the opinion that the estate was better managed under 1004 estate ltd before the new group, now sacked began fomenting trouble. They look forward to a quick return to normalcy.
