BENIN CITY- The Edo Development and Property Authority (EDPA) has commended residents in some of its estates for the impressive level of compliance recorded during its ongoing recertification exercise, warning others to comply with the exercise to make way for development in the estates.
The recertification exercise, which commenced in November 2017, continued in EDPA estate in Ugbowo, on January 8. It is aimed at building up-to-date database of occupants in the estate, identifying illegal occupants and to provide data for the revamp of some of the estates.
Administrative Secretary, EDPA, Mr. Anthony Erameh, who spoke with Journalists in Ugbowo, Benin City, said that the agency has recorded impressive turnout in some of the estates, even as some residents are yet to comply with the exercise.
According to him, “We were at Iguosa Estate before we went on Christmas holiday. We achieved about 70 per cent compliance with the recertification exercise. At Andrew Wilson Estate, we recorded over 90% compliance. We are now continuing the exercise at BDPA, Ugbowo Estate.”
He added, “At Oregbeni, we recorded about 50 per cent compliance. We didn’t meet some of the people at home initially and when we met some of them, they did not cooperate with our staff. We caution against such. Though some of them say they don’t see any reason for the recertification, we have asked them to comply with this exercise because it will not only provide us with data to work on the estates, it will help in securing their ownership of their property in the long-run.
“At the Federal Housing Estate in Aduwawa, we recorded 80 per cent compliance. Some of those who couldn’t do the recertification exercise are still coming to our office for theirs.”
He stressed that the state government was committed to utilising data gathered from the exercise for decision-making and to sanitise the estates, noting, “Some of the occupants have been coming to the office after we concluded our stay in some of the estates. Those who have seen reasons with us have been to our office and we are here to attend to them.”
Erameh urged errant tenants at BDPA Ugbowo and Oregbeni estates to cooperate with EDPA officials to ensure they are captured in the agency’s database, which comes with attendant advantages.
He said that the exercise continues at Iyekogba and Ogbe – Ibuya Housing Estates, noting that reconciliation and other complaints will be treated the following week.
