Hon. Abdullahi Saheed Modasoluwa: Celebrating Giant Feats In Shelter Provision For Nigerians

Hon. Abdullahi Saheed Modasoluwa is the chairman of Harmony Garden And Estate Limited based in Lagos. As a an estate management expert of almost two-decade experience, he is out in full force, to turn the table. He was recently at a 2024 Bridging Housing Deficit Summit organised by its organisation held at Lekki Aviation Town by Harmony Gardens & Estate Development Ltd, Ibeju Lekki Lagos; with theme: ‘Housing Sustainability Development, Navigating Home Ownership Amidst Economic Uncertainties’; to address issues facing housing provision in Nigeria, using the Lagos model.

Housing deficit has become a canker worm to problems in Nigeria. Over the years, the estate magnate has been looking to see how everyone will start enjoying good and affordable shelter and not just hoping against hope, thus in such regard, he came up to convince many stakeholders to come on board.

This has calibrated in his laying the foundation of several housing units covering 164 hectares of land.

This, assuredly, is a landmark achievement among many other captivating and jaw-dropping activities, which include road infrastructure to bring finesse and utmost convenience to the kaleidoscope of his many housing units.

In his resolution to address the housing needs in Nigeria, he also brought keynote speakers and panel of experts within and outside the country to tackle the issue holistically.

Among the juggernauts was Roger Fysh, Managing Director HBSI Ltd, UK; a man that has built 15,000 units houses within just four years. His housing feats cut across Guinea Conakry. He’s also one of his board of directors on Peep Home in Cotonou.

Among those also in attendance are: Aouchiche Athmane, project manager, Rand Engineering & Architecture; May Christopher Lance, MD/ CEO Golden Trust Capital, UK Founder (Mortgage Times Group); Hon.(Dr.) Doris Nkiruka Uzota- Anite; Minister of industry, trade, and investments; Arc Ahmed M. Dangiwa.

Also in the team are: Hon.(Min.)Fed. Ministry of housing and Urban Development; representative to HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ooni of Ife; Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), the controller general Nigeria custom service; Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Dr. Reuben Abati of the Arise News among others.

Looking at how the current economic crises have affected the real estate sector, it is important to look at the political perspective of things, thus the political and economic challenges’ most damnable effect, resulting in inadequate home is as a result of policy that the government decided to put down.

There seems to be a lot of misinterpretation of land desserts which are having conflicts between the customary ownership and statutory ownership Everywhere people are talking about C of O! C of O!! C of O!!! C of O, meaning certificate of occupancy. This all important document is part of the deal in Abdullahi’s derived effort to provide home to thousands.

State governors, before issuing certificates of occupancy, often insist on prospectors following due process, which is a cutting edge in the Harmony Garden and Estate Limited outfit; meaning that one must be able to explain how he or she occupies the property. This is assured for all customers.

Using Harmony Garden and Estate as a case study, what they’ve been saying is what they’ve been able to develop, the only problem is the fact that Nigerian government at the state level and at the center, although trying most especially, the Lagos State government with the property partnership with private private development, have assisted to look at how to sort the issues of ‘omo onile’, best explainedas land speculators..

However, for developers, they need to look at that. To quote Abdullahi, ” I’m not saying that some of our developers are not land grabbers as well, because a watcher of a land grabber is also a land grabber as well. So we need to look at which better way to sort this housing deficit challenge that we’re having.”

Asked if he’s not bothered about the proliferation of real estate companies across the country as a major threat, Hon. Saheed Modasoluwa replied blatantly, “Nooo, not at all I’m not bothered’, exclaiming the inadequacy on ground,

“We are not enough, as there are about 254 million Nigerians. I want you to look at it closely, many are still homeless, so without the real estate developer, and without the direction, we will not be able to achieve what we want to achieve.

“If you look at the question you just asked now, you will agree with me that thousands of experts have been addressing this housing deficit with me, so their business is in line with mine and mine is in line with theirs; everybody actually has their own particular rule to play in order to tackle the housing challenge”.

In his words of advice to the Nigerian youths, Hon Abdullahi lays emphasis on the fact that land is not something that can be created, nobody is creating land anymore based on the ones available, that the youth need to be fast; they need not use all that they earn to buy vehicles or indulge in frivolities.

He added, however, with emphasis that, “they should invest!” Land is the only product they can invest in and will not get discouraged and will actually have what they invest in.

He said, “I’ve been investing on land for the past 18 years, and here I am today, glory to the Almighty God, I’ve never been disappointed”.

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This published material is sponsored by Otunba Kola Onakoya, chairman World K Oil & Gas Company in The Issues Magazine

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