'Damilare Gk: estate study carried out on Omole phase 2 Housing Estate

Omole phase 2 Housing Estate

Introduction

Omole Phase 2 is a Government Reserved Residential Area in Lagos State of Nigeria. Omole phase 2 was created during the administration of General Mobolaji Johnson as the military governor of Lagos state in 1975. The land mass was formerly used for agricultural purposes. Omole phase 2 is bounded by Berger, Isheri - Olowora and the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway which is located about six kilometers west of Ikeja, the Capital city of Lagos State. Omole phase 2 is a quiet and peaceful estate with beautiful layout out and houses. Its beauty beckons on you to come. Many real estate investors prefer Omole phase 2 to Omole phase 1 because of the pace at which you get to beat traffic when you live in phase 2 courtesy the Lagos-Ibadan expressway which is very close and enables the platform to cut off the usual traffic jam within the city. It has several facilities which serve the inhabitants of the community. Omole is close to the Lagos-Ibadan Express, one of the main highways in the city. However, traffic is often heavy during rush hour but most residents don’t usually have problems accessing their abodes. The Estate offers a serene environment and proximity to the Lagos Mainland, Island and other states through the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway.

Estate Layout: The estate’s layout is in form of a grid pattern and most road networks within the estate are access roads of in which virtually all the roads in the estates are untarred with exception of the main access roads which serves as the major entrance and exit to the estate and with the exception of Rev. Emmanuel Adubifa Street.

Housing Types & Cost: Omole phase 2 is mostly inhabited by senior government officials, industrialists and top professionals. It offers decent accommodation with beautiful and efficient facilities and services. Most houses within the estate come in various styles and shapes. In there we have mansions, bungalows, duplex, flats and most of the properties are privately secured aside the estate security which guards and monitors the estate. In getting nice photos and views of the various beautiful houses within the estate, some of the landlords that sighted my presence denied me the chance to take a snap of some of their houses, however I was able to manipulate and get some good photos of some of the house within tjh estate. Most of the houses have nice and beautiful flower beds which gives a very good and attractive landscape to the layout of their surroundings. The value of the various properties within the estate varies on the type of property and the incentives that make up the property. According to Lagos real estate surveyors and www.nairaland.com, a recent 5 bedroom fully detached duplex is estimated at 70million naira while a plot of land goes for 80million naira asking price.

Transportation & Security: The Estate is well served by buses, taxis and commercial motorcycles although most residents have their own private cars. There is particular team of motorcycles that are allowed within the estates and from information gathered this team of okada riders are to register with the estate transport board for an undisclosed amount before they could be permitted to carry out commercial transport activities. In terms of security, Omole is close to the Lagos-Ibadan Express, one of the main highways in the city. However, traffic is often heavy during rush hour. The area is dotted with police posts and checkpoints and there are frequent patrols especially at night. There is also a good security service on the estates offered by the Omole Phase 2 Security Patrol Team.

Socio-economic activities and Social Infrastructural facilities: Omole phase 2 is well planned and organized to the extent that there are no large markets or shopping malls in Omole but there are plenty of local stores selling groceries. There are several eateries, drinking joints and guest houses in and around the area for relaxation. The saddle club which is one major relaxation spot for the top officials who reside in the estate and around Lagos is at the entrance to the estate. Ikeja saddle club is a club where the only activity there is horse riding. The club has a large expanse of Land. There are also religious institutions and academic institutions within the estate. Water supply isn’t an issue in the estate as most residents have their own bole holes and source of water.

In the area of infrastructures and basic amenities within the estate, electricity, good drainage networks and channels are some of the facilities beckoned on the estate. During my survey I observed that most of the drainage channels within the estate were clean and well laid out, the estate also has Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at strategic point to the entrance and exit of the estate and they are well secured as they are sited close to the security check points of the estate’s entrance and exit.

Photos of well disposed refuse in the refuse bins by some of the estate residents, ATM at the back gate leading to the expressway, good and clean drainage channel within the estate

Major problems within the estate:

Poor power supply and untarred roads: Haven gone through all these goods qualities about the estate, this doesn’t rule out the fact the residence are satisfied with everything in the estate as some of them complain of the existence of inbuilt drainage channels with the estate, as some of the residence still have complains of bad roads, poor and irregular power supply as some them rely on generating sets which causes air & noise pollutions. During the survey, we also observed that there are still some buildings under going constructions within the estate and there are uncompleted, abandoned structures within the estate as well. Also, we have some structures marked as illegal by the LSDPC.

Lack of recreational facilities: From reliable information gathered from the estate officers, the estate has no recreational facilities. I also gathered that the saddle club isn’t for the estate but for top officials who stay far away from the estate.

Photos of illegal structures marked by LSDPC and some on going constructions

Adjoining problems: the estate is not faced with some much adjoining problems, the only and which seems to be the major problem is traffic jam along the major entrance to the estate from Ojodu - Berger, of which the expressway serves as the alternative route of exit and entrance for only residents. Aside this, the estate is okay and peaceful and worth living and having ones abode in. Why not come enjoy the serene environment the nature offers, peaceful neighborhood, secure place, a nice place to stay and invest as real estate investor.