CPC gives LASG ultimatum on Lagos HOMS winners

The Consumer Protection Council has given the Lagos State Government a seven-day ultimatum to revert to it on the state of the Lagos State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme.

The CPC asked the state government to investigate the delay in the completion of the Mushin project and alleviate the pains of the winners.

The Lagos HOMS winners had written the CPC after an earlier letter to the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, did not yield any fruit.

The winners, in a letter dated November 7, 2015, said their hopes had been dashed by the state government after committing their life savings to the project.

The letter read in part, “The month of November, 2015, made it one full year since we won flats in the Lagos HOMS at Mushin, but we have yet to take possession.

“About this time a year ago, the scheme had not been completed even after paying our share of 30 per cent equity. We had been given several delivery dates, but Lagos HOMS kept missing those dates. They gave one excuse after another; from government’s failure to release funds to PHCN’s refusal to connect power. The last given date for completion was in September, 2015, which was also missed.

“To be fair, this is the worst treatment we have ever received from any Lagos State Government institution.”

The head of the CPC, Lagos State, Mr. Joshua Nggada, in a letter dated January 15, 2016, and addressed to the Managing Director of Lagos HOMS, asked the state government to look into the matter within seven days.

Nggada said, “Please be informed that the Consumer Protection Council is the apex consumer protection regulatory agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, established under Act 66 of 1992, and has the mandate to, among other functions, seek speedy redress for aggrieved consumers of goods and services in all sectors of the economy; and seek ways and means of removing, from the markets, hazardous and substandard products.

“In view of the above, you are requested to investigate the complaint and furnish the council with your response within seven days upon receipt of this letter, to enable the council to expedite actions towards an amicable resolution of the case.”

The Lagos HOMS could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.