Growth Continues, With or Without a Plan-Slate.com

Open Letter to the Governor

Your Excellency:

Mr. Babatunde Fashola:

Congratulations on all your efforts to improve Lagos State and move her forward to a sustainable position for the next 50 to 60 years. My associates and I were very impressed to hear about your efforts and accomplishments from our friends from all the cardinals of Nigeria. Some of them hope and pray that the Governors of their States can emulate you and perform half as well as you. Again, we congratulate you.

Based on some of the articles we are opportune to read about you and the ongoing plans and development of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, it seems to us that a crucial part of the success of the mission is missing. This is the provision of affordable homes for the displaced residence.

It is true that you and your administration are committed to ensure that:

We do not believe that the provision of the above is an adequate solution for the problems that will be created once the developments at Lekki Free Trade Zone gets into full gear. Despite your good intentions, dedication, efforts and plans for the success of LFTZ and indeed the whole of Lagos, it is our belief that without the same efforts to permanently situate the displaced residents, your programs may not last the 50 to 60 years you envisage. The success of LFTZ will be over shadowed once the displaced residents exhaust their compensations.

It is common knowledge that Lagosians live together as extended family in over crowed households. This is much more so with majority of the low income people that your plan for LFTZ will be displacing. Their displacement will make the problems with lack of affordable housing in Lagos more acute. Merely relocating, replacing land and compensating these people are not a permanent solution.

What is a permanent solution you ask? A permanent solution is to assist them rebuild their homes wherever they are being relocated. Replacement of land and compensation is great, but we think you should go a step further. How far? Assist them with affordable housing.

We understand that the housing challenge is multifarious in dimension. It ranges from:

· a huge housing deficit due to imbalance between supply and demand,

· rapid urbanization,

· steady population growth,

· high cost of construction,

· paucity of housing finance,

· prohibitive cost of land,

· poor state of infrastructure,

· shortage of building materials, and;

· under investment in affordable housing.

We are ready to partner with you and your administration in this endeavor with the development of affordable mixed income housing scheme starting from U$D7,500.00 for a 35-45 meters square homes.

We will collaborate with you and your government in development of affordable mixed-income housing for the people that are being displaced by the LFTZ plan and anywhere in Lagos. We are a strong believer that partnering with Government is the key to solving the chronic housing shortages, reducing unemployment, building stronger society and business structures that will meet the needs of this new millennium.

If you partner with us, we will establish a construction and housing manufacturing company in Lagos. Our turnkey manufacturing facilities will include the following:

Our material is termite resistant and is fire retardant for tropical climates. Thus far, our system has withstood earthquake magnitudes of up to 7.6 on the Richter scale.  Our buildings have also withstood wind speeds of up to 160 mph.  (This statistic was recorded during hurricane Andrew 1992) The materials are also environmentally friendly and non-toxic.

Our factory is capable of building a minimum of 800-1000 affordable housing in form of estates that offer a complex of structures to accommodate the general public within 12 months. This complex will consist of two to three story one-bedroom apartment buildings for single living and two and bedroom homes for family living and, or single family houses and town homes in various locations in Lagos.

The homes will range in sizes from 35-45 meter squares, 75-85 meter squares and 95-105 meter squares. Price range of about U$D7,500.00 to U$D25,500.00. We will provide mortgage for up to 20% of the cost for 5 years with a 7.5% interest for 5years.

T he type of structures and project layout of the estate will rely on available land and environmental conditions. The number of units and apartments that can be built will also depend on the amount of available land. The design of the estate will be balanced (healthcare center, school(s), recreation center, shopping complex/offices …) so that it can offer a broad range of amenities and opportunity to the community. A Community Empowerment Projectcan benefit and support the whole community and further economic development for years to come.

How can we deliver houses that are these affordable? We can because we utilize:
a. Cost Affective Materials
b. Economic Manufacturing
c. Uses Unskilled Labor for Construction
d. Simple Technologies to Train Unskilled Workers.

Collaborating with us is a win-win-win situation because we:

WE ALL BENEFIT

By partnering and collaborating with us, Growth will not only Continue, but With a solid

Plan for success.

Our Motto: Promote Growth and Reduce Poverty.

We wish you more success, good health and long life. "Eko o ni baje!"

Sincerely,

Larry Lee

Vice President

Baat Group

baatgrp@yahoo.com ; 773 967 9032 ext 703

caesium411@aol.com