Thirty of the 98 applicants, who participated yesterday in the first public draw of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (HOMS), have emerged winners.
The draw was held at the Blue Roof Hall on the premises of the Lagos State Television in Ikeja.
HOMS gives residents an opportunity to own their own homes and pay in 10 years.
Governor Babatunde Fashola urged the private sector, especially housing developers, to partner HOMS to increase the number of homes available to applicants during monthly draws.
Fashola said: “We promised you that there will be a second phase of this initiative and I am pleased to say that the committee has started work on the second phase.
“In the second phase, we are opening up the scheme to the private sector and housing developers, who will build the homes, while the government will be the guaranteed purchaser of the homes.
“By so doing, we would be in a position to double or triple the number of homes from 200 to 600 or 800 a month. If we allow the private sector to build the homes, we will buy the houses from them and put them up for mortgage.”
He said leftover homes from this month’s draw will be added to the 200 billed for next month’s draw.
Fashola said: “We promised to make available a minimum of 200 houses every month and we have delivered on that promise. There are 200 homes available for this month.
“From the report I received, we have 322 applicants, but only 98 met the conditions. There are 77 people whose processes are being undertaken but did not meet our deadline for this draw, which was February 28. I believe all the 98 will be home owners when we complete this draw. The remaining 102 homes for this month will be added to the 200 for next month, so we will have 302 for next month.”
Unlike previous housing schemes, home owners under this scheme will be responsible for the maintenance of their homes.
The governor said: “The government is still saddled with the responsibility of painting, cleaning and maintaining the homes that were sold to residents during the Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration. That will not be allowed under this scheme.
“Home owners will take responsibility for their homes and pay maintenance fees. By so doing, estate management firms, small companies and your children will have an opportunity to earn an income. If owners pay their mortgages promptly, the scheme would become self sustaining in seven years.” 