Lagos Housing Project Faces Resident Backlash Over Unfulfilled Promises
Concerned subscribers and residents of the Greater Lagos County Apartments located in Obele-Oniwala, Surulere, Lagos State, have formally addressed an open letter to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The communication highlights significant grievances against Megamound Investment Limited, the private developer involved in this joint venture project with the Lagos Building Investment Company.
Project Background and Initial Optimism
The Greater Lagos County Apartments project, comprising 374 housing units with one, two, and three-bedroom configurations, initially generated considerable enthusiasm among investors and prospective residents. Its strategic central location and association with the Lagos Building Investment Company provided a sense of assurance and credibility. The commissioning ceremony on May 19, 2025, which was graced by Governor Sanwo-Olu, further elevated expectations that long-awaited housing delivery would finally materialize after the project's commencement in 2020.
Mounting Frustrations and Unresolved Issues
However, nearly eight months post-commissioning, residents report that their aspirations have been repeatedly thwarted, transforming what was meant to be a dream into a distressing ordeal. The open letter outlines several critical deficiencies attributed to Megamound Investment Limited:
- Electricity Failure: Despite collecting Five Million Naira per subscriber for electricity connections via an independent gas and power plant supplemented by solar energy, there remains no functional electricity supply on the estate premises.
- Water Supply Neglect: After receiving Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira per subscriber for water connections, the developer has failed to provide water. Residents have been compelled to independently procure generators, pumping machines, and pipes, incurring monthly expenses ranging from Sixty to One Hundred Thousand Naira.
- Absent Facility Management: The Facility Management Team has not commenced operations, raising serious concerns regarding waste disposal, safety protocols, and overall estate maintenance.
- Environmental Health Hazard: A large canal adjacent to at least twelve residential blocks, bordering the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Staff Quarters, has not been cleared. This canal is reportedly used for open defecation, emitting foul odors that infiltrate kitchens and bedrooms.
Additional Grievances and Comparative Failures
The letter further details other pressing concerns that exacerbate resident dissatisfaction:
- Repeated Deadline Shifts: Project delivery dates have been consistently postponed from 2024 to 2025 and now to 2026. In stark contrast, the Exquisite Homes project in Iponri, commissioned simultaneously on May 19, 2025, has been fully delivered with all utilities operational and residents already settled.
- Incomplete Construction Work: Numerous apartment blocks exhibit unfinished elements such as defective door handles, missing staircase railings, and incomplete light switch boxes. The developer's approach is described as slow and lacking customer-centric focus.
- Diverted Priorities: Despite receiving full payment for undelivered services, Megamound Investment Limited is allegedly prioritizing the advertisement of new off-plan projects within the estate and online platforms. This has forced some subscribers to independently hire vendors for installations like air conditioners and electrical repairs.
Broader Implications and Appeal for Intervention
The residents' correspondence also references similar complaints from occupants of Megamound's Lekky County Homes estate in Ikota, suggesting a pattern of inadequate service delivery. They argue that such practices contradict Lagos State's housing vision and its reputation for governance excellence.
The letter includes documented evidence such as formal communications from Megamound and photographic documentation from the estate. Residents have invited representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Lagos Building Investment Company to conduct on-site verifications.
In their appeal, the subscribers respectfully urge Governor Sanwo-Olu to utilize his office to ensure Megamound Investment Limited fulfills its contractual obligations. They express confidence that his intervention will expedite resolution, thereby validating their decision to invest and reside in Lagos State. The communication concludes with a Yoruba phrase emphasizing collective progress: "Igbega ipinle Ekoo ti di ajumose fun gbogbo wa" (The advancement of Lagos State is a collective responsibility).
