The Ogun State Government has introduced a Rent-to-Own housing scheme and direct-labour construction model to make homeownership more accessible and create jobs for artisans across the state.
The Commissioner for Housing, Jamiu Omoniyi, disclosed this during an X Space conversation on ‘Affordable Housing in Ogun State: Homes, Financing and Opportunities’, on Tuesday.
Omoniyi said the state was tackling two major barriers to homeownership – high construction costs and the inability of residents to make outright payments.
As part of the new approach, the commissioner stated that the government is partnering with Gateway Mortgage Bank on the proposed Prince Court Estate, Kobape Phase IV, a Rent-to-Own option that will allow residents who cannot afford full payment to spread the cost.
The commissioner said the model reflects government’s shift from just building houses to creating financing pathways that are sustainable for beneficiaries.
He listed existing estates in Kobape Phases I–III, Kemta, Itanrin, Ikenne and Iperu as part of efforts targeting middle-income earners.
Beyond new estates, Omoniyi said the state has begun regeneration of older communities including Ibara GRA, Abeokuta and GRA, Ijebu-Ode to improve living conditions and stimulate local economic activities.
He added that the adoption of direct-labour in project delivery has engaged over 5,000 artisans across various sites.
“Direct-labour reduces construction costs, promotes effective monitoring and ensures greater patronage of local content providers within the built economy,” he said.
Omoniyi also disclosed that government subsidises land costs and provides infrastructure in its estates to reduce the burden on buyers.
He said the ministry is clearing a backlog of title documents, including for beneficiaries of estates delivered before 2019, to strengthen security of homeownership.
The commissioner urged residents to apply for government housing schemes, assuring that the ministry will monitor developments and check speculation.
“The ultimate objective of Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration is to ensure that the Ogun affordable housing interventions translate into secure and sustainable homeownership for residents while simultaneously stimulating economic activities across the state’s built environment,” Omoniyi submitted.