The Nation Newspaper

Category: Building & Properties

  • Firm unveils Lekki estate

    Another estate has joined the growing property business in Lekki, Lagos.

    Known as Royal Residence, it is the brainchild of Obika Realtors Limited.

    It is on a 10-acre land at Eluju Town in Ibeju-Lekki  Local Government Area of the state.

    The  estate with about 54 serviced plots, is zoned into five areas-detached  semi-detached terraced  recreational and commercial to ensure uniformity and aesthetics.

    Its Managing Director, Mrs. Ekamma Ufot, said the estate has basic infrastructure and services, such as roads, drainages, electricity, water, security, and effective facility management.

    She explained that the estate has 54 plots, 20 of which would be allocated under the first phase. A subscriber cannot buy more than four plots which must be developed within five years.

    At the allocation,  Ufot explained that a Deed of Assignment would be given to beneficiaries upon completion of payment. The title  would be transferred to owners and the property excised.

    She said her firm’s business philosophy  is hinged on meeting and surpassing the needs of its  clients by  achieving world class services in the most cost effective and professional manner.

    “We are providing this at a very affordable cost all in a bid to transform the dreams of prospective allottees   to reality. We are already getting testimonies from our stakeholders due to our commitment to deliver as promised within the stipulated time frame,” Ufot explained.

    A subscriber, Mr. John Ikomi, lauded the infrastructure, saying the firm was committed to ensuring that stakeholders’ dreams were actualised.

    Managing Director of Cordros Capital Wale Agbeyangi hailed the scheme, expressing satisfaction with its infrastructure and layout.

  • $11b lifeline for ACP slum dwellers

    Slum dwellers in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries may soon begin to breathe the air of a new dawn.

    This is predicated on the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP), for which $11 million has been secured.

    The PSUP is an initiative of the Secretariat of the ACP Group of States, funded by the European Commission and implemented by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

    UN-Habitat estimates that an alarming one billion people live in slums worldwide, and if no action is taken, the number of people living in this inadequate housing is estimated to grow to over three billion by 2030.

    This announcement was made at the 26th session of the UN-Habitat Governing Council, where opportunities for the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda, a 20-year plan of action on housing and sustainable urban development was discussed.

    “I am delighted to celebrate and announce the third round of funding for the global Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme,” said Ambassador Léonard-Emile Ognimba, the Assistant Secretary General of the Secretariat of the ACP Group of States.

    He further indicated that “10 million Euros will be used for 50 percent of the ACP countries. Going forward, we would like to see the strengthening of community-led processes, and empowerment of local and national governments to build their financial and technical capacity to tackle the slum challenge”.

    The funding covers 2017-2021 during which UN-Habitat is expected to leverage the $11 million and bring about the necessary change and transformation to end urban poverty in ACP countries in a sustainable way. The funds are also meant to catalyse public resources through slum upgrading.

    At the international level, the European Commission is exploring the European Union blending a modality where national level banks and private sector are approached to finance slum upgrading initiatives.

    “I can ensure you that UN-Habitat and the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme are fit for purpose to implement in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda. UNHabitat will do its level best to leverage the catalytic funds and bring about the necessary change and transformation to end urban poverty in ACP countries in a sustainable way with a long-term vision,” said Mr. Raf Tuts, the Director of Programme Division, UN-Habitat National and local authorities are also expected to co-finance the process.

    “The City of Dakar and my Ministry have signed contribution agreements totalling $300,000,” stated Diène Farba Sarr, Senegal’s Minister of Urban Renewal, Habitat and Living Environment, while showing his government’s engagement.

    Cameroon’s contribution to slum upgrading was also highlighted. “My government provided co-financing of $260,000 for the implementation of tangible initiatives at neighbourhood level,” said Jean Claude Mbwentchou.

    The interventions include provision of sanitation facilities and upgrading of public spaces that include the construction of public bridges in order to enhance access. An additional $200,000 was contributed by partners, added the Minister.

    Slums and informal settlements are the physical manifestations of inequalities, according to the UN-Habitat, adding that they stand for exclusion, stigmatisation, gentrification and urban poverty. While the percentage of slum dwellers decreased from 39 percent to 30 percent of the urban population in developing countries between 2000 and 2014 – absolute numbers of slum dwellers continue to grow.

  • Enforce standards on block moulding, govt urged

    Stakeholders in the block moulding sub-sector of the country’s building and construction industry have called on the Federal and state governments to institute a body empowered by legislation to monitor the quality of building blocks being produced in the country. They are convinced that such effort will help prevent cases of collapsed building in the country.     The consensus was made last week at a workshop organised by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) Igando-Ikotun Cell, Lagos. The theme of the workshop was: “Economic Recession and Inflation: Sustainable quality in the production of Sandcrete Blocks and Allied Products.”

    At the workshop, the BCPG Ikotun Cell Coordinator, Mrs. Adekemi Okusaga, a quantity surveyor, said the theme was carefully selected to address one of the main challenges in the built environment.

    The General Manager, New Towns Development Authority, Lagos, and Chairman, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola, urged all stakeholders to close ranks and work towards forestalling collapse building in the country. He said it was wrong for anybody to wait for disaster to occur before rising up to the challenge. He urged all stakeholders to be proactive in their efforts to having a better country and safer building industry.

    In his keynote address, president BCPG, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, noted that in times past, the quality of blocks used for construction was not in doubt. However, he regrets that the story is not the same in the present times- a development that has become a source of concern for construction professionals.

    Awobodu, a builder, lamented the absence of a regulating body for blocks’ production, adding that the time had come for the governments to rise the occasion. “Lack of regulation in the production of blocks has been the major source of this problem. Block making business has become an all-comers affair. The machine for manufacturing blocks is easily fabricated in all nooks and crannies without strict specifications and standard. There is no monitoring system for the quality of sand and water being used for block production,” he lamented. He however assured that the BCPG would not relent in its efforts towards having a safer building industry in the country.

    The President, National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON), Alhaji Rasheed Adebowale, however said apart from regulation issue, some block moulders are also in the habit of looking for cheaper blocks, which in turn leads to inferior block production. A former president, Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers, Dr. Victor Oyenuga, submitted that block production is an engineering business.

    “Block making is not an all comers affairs, it is a serious engineering business and must be taken as such. It becomes imperative when the building is to be a load bearing form of construction which is the most widely used method here for bungalows and two storey (one suspended upper floor) buildings,” he said, adding that all efforts should be made to meet the standard requirements of the Code in the  production of sandcrete blocks.

    The Head of Department of Building, University of Lagos, Prof. Godwin Idoro, identified four main factors affecting block making in the country. These are: government-related causes, design-related causes, construction-related causes and material-related cause.

    According to the Don, a study by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), suggested that that only five percent of Nigerian blocks are produced (moulded) to specifications. This, he said, presupposes that 95 per cent of the sandcrete blocks in circulation or that are used for construction are substandard.

    He argued that there must be development of codes and standards on sandcrete blocks by government agencies in collaboration with research institutions and professional bodies and regular training of block manufacturers on the standards.

    “Governments should make it mandatory for blocks to carry the name of producers, brand name, date of manufacture and expiration like other manufactured products.  Development and adoption of standard production flow chart by block producers. The issue of task force is a government responsibility and no private body can do that all alone,” Idodo said.

  • Property boom won’t ease soon, says firm

    As the economic climate bites harder, making investment decisions in real estate has become tougher. While  some have lost hope in the sector, preferring to trade in foreign exchange in view of the recent dollar surge against the naira, key industry analysts and stakeholders are still convinced that the real sector investment still holds the ace.

    Their position was based on some fundamental principles of investment; one of which is never make permanent decisions based on temporary situations. One of such optimists in the sector is the Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer, Sujimoto Construction Limited, Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele.

    According to him, although the real estate and property market was slightly affected by the downturn in the economy, yet, unlike other investment portfolios, properties in the Ikoyi axis, especially in Banana Island, have enjoyed great stability as their prices have consistently held value.

    The Sujimoto helmsman revealed that his firm, by applying three fundamental principles of real estate has been able to guide prospective investors in the sector to achieve maximum return on their portfolio. These principles he listed include property location, price and quality.

    “Our only mission is always to exceed customers’ expectations by providing exceptional real estate at an affordable price. If you want to know about luxury real estate, speak to Sujimoto. The same rule applies when you want to learn about investment, you need to consult someone who has amassed substantial wealth and successes by investing in several businesses,” he said.

    Buttressing further the huge inherent potentials in the industry, Ogundele referred to Andrew Carnegie, an American industrialist who led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century. “More money has been made in real estate than in all industrial investments combined. 90 percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate,” Carnegie was quoted to have said.

    Therefore, he said, one vital lesson investors need to learn from Carnegie is that those who depend on the current weakness of the naira will have themselves to blame, as real estate has proven to be a secured and safest investment portfolio that guarantees the best return on investment (ROI).

    He blamed the prolonged economic recession and the crash of the forex market- two factors that have forced landlords and caretakers to reduce the prices of their apartments, for the prevalence of several empty apartments in the country. Besides, the quality of apartments is also a factor for its occupancy.

    “Recently, a client commissioned us to help look for a good property and we realised that there are lots of extremely expensive terraces and apartments with terrible finishing. It is like offering a Toyota for the price of a Bentley,” he said. This shocking revelation, Ogundele further said, prompted his firm to set up a small project in Banana Island in Ikoyi. The apartments, all sold out, Ogundele explained, has been able to bring the three major principles of real estate into one space—incredible location, great finishing, and exceptional price.

    He advised investors to ensure tat they are investing in the right property that will guarantee value, great returns and peace of mind at a great price, even as he expressed confidence that the housing market will experience a great boom, even as the economy gradually frees itself from recession.

  • Market demolition: Association clears Ambode

    Contrary to insinuations that Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode ordered the demolition of second wing of Alade Market, Ikeja, Lagos, the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men in the market, have cleared the air on the incident last weekend.

    The Association, which spoke through its Iyaloja-General, Mrs. Adia Apena in a statement, explained that all marketers in the second wing agreed to a plan to demolish the market.

    Faulting reports making the rounds, the Iyaloja-General said the demolition of the second wing of the market, which started last Sunday, was in line with the resolution agreed to by all the traders on the final relocation of the marketers.

    She said the traders had requested the Ikeja Local Government and the concessionaire, Master Reality International Concepts Limited to provide them with an alternative space to continue trading before the demolition of the second wing of Alade Market. Consequently, she explained, the local government directed the concessionaire to cater for those whose interests might not have been accommodated in the New Alade Market. The concessionaire was then said to have constructed blocks of shops for the affected people.

    “After the concessioner completed the new blocks of shops, the Sole Administrator of Ikeja Local Government, Mr. Abiodun Taiwo, convened a stakeholders’ meeting on the relocation plan for the marketers that were yet to be provided with alternative shops. At the meetings, letters of allocation of shops were issued. And all marketers at the meeting received their letters of allocations. We made resolution that demolition would commence precisely on April 30. By April 28, traders began to move their goods from the market,” Apena said.

    On Sunday, Apena said some traders were still moving their stuff from the market, noting that she was present at the market “to witness their relocation.” This, she said, can be proved based on the ledger that all shop owners signed before they could move from their shops.

    She reiterated that the Alade market “is the first and only market that has been demolished in Lagos, if not in Nigeria, with an alternative for relocation. This arrangement has saved us from disruption of commercial activities.”

    In 2016, the traders at the main wing of Alade Market were relocated to the New Alade Market, which was developed by the Ikeja Local Government in partnership with the concessionaire of Alade Shopping Mall, Master Reality International Concepts Limited. The second wing, which specifically housed the operators of Bureau de Change among others, was not demolished to enable the local government construct an alternative market in order to avoid disrupting their commercial activities.

  • Firm trains Nigerians on ‘Zero to Hero’

    Nigerians have been urged to look beyond the negative side of the current economic hardship, by positioning themselves to benefit from the situation. This, according to the promoters of  Pertinence Nigeria Limited- an enterprise with interest in Real Estate, Business Consultancy, Finance Advisory Services, Seminars and Trainings, is because in every adverse economic climate, new millionaires and entrepreneurs are always born.

    Last weekend, the firm held a public training on “Hero to Zero”, targeted at gingering the public to rise up to the occasion by taking their future in their hands. Drawing from real life experience, the organisers explained that the concept tells the story of how the firm grew from nothing to where it is now, providing houses and housing solutions to the public at affordable rates.

    “It is our story of how we came from the bottom and how we are now at the top, hence the success of Pertinence Limited. We aim at playing a significant role in solving the poverty and unemployment problem by being part of the solution to the housing deficit challenge in the country. It works to ensure that everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status can be a land/house owner,” explained an executive director and a co-founder of Pertinence Limited, Mr. Wisdom Ezekiel.

    He said the firm deploys the strategy of an Asset Business Club (ABC), to help people convert their network into net-worth. The ABC, he further explained, is opened to anyone who has drive, determination and perseverance to succeed and create wealth through assets and business development, anyone that wants to control his/her life and financial future, anyone who wants to learn the skills of entrepreneurs, rather than the skills of an employee or people who only want to become highly paid managers in the corporate world, anyone who wants to lead by teaching.

    “With this ABC, we try to influence others to find their own world of financial abundance without having to beat competition; encouraging people looking for an opportunity to face his/her fears, deal with them, overcome them and let the winner in him/her thrive,” Ezekiel further said. To him, recession is a mindset; hence, his firm is not in recession because its mindset is that things can still work for them even in spite of the recession.

    In similar vein, another Executive Director and a co-founder of the firm, Mr. Sunday Olorunsheyi, agreed that there are challenges in the country, but people should be seeing the opportunities that abound in the country. “If people begin to see opportunities, because  we saw opportunities that is why this business is where it is today, they will be better off,” he encouraged.

    Awards were presented at the end of the training to people in different categories. One of the awardees, Mrs. Justina Omoyajowo, a former lecturer at Yewa College of Education, got a set of chairs. She thanked the firm for the kind gesture, saying the training the firm gives on regular basis is truly empowering people. “The firm give you the platform to realise the real you with their trainings and all they do,” Omoyajowo said.

  • UNIOSUN flaunts 30,000sqms facility

    UNIOSUN flaunts 30,000sqms facility

    The University of Osun (UNIOSUN) Faculty of Engineering building, acclaimed to be the biggest in any Nigerian tertiary institution, has been ascribed as an architectural masterpiece. The building, which was commissioned on April 5, 2015, sits on a vast area of 30,000 square meters.

    The edifice, which was built by Stabilini Visinoni, consists of two structures married into a single entity and has a 600 seating-capacity auditorium; 22 lecture halls; 16 workshops; 47 offices; six conference rooms; six shops; a 100 sitting-capacity cafeteria and a state-of-the-art kitchen.

    The building features various sizes of courtyards that provide ventilation and lighting to its many components. It also has a basement covering 100 square meters. The external work and car park are finished with interlocking paving stones.

  • ‘Infrastructure’ll drive real estate growth’

    ‘Infrastructure’ll drive real estate growth’

    The Managing Director of Cross and Churchill, Mr. Taiwo Ogunbodede, has said the full potential of the real estate sector can be better realised if the government put in place adequate infrastructure.

    Such endeavour, he further said, would also stimulate faster growth in the real estate sector.

    Ogunbodede, also the Chairman, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Southwest chapter, with adequate infrastructure in place, people do not necessarily have to live in cities at exorbitant costs.

    “Housing will come into being when the Federal Goernment begins to put in place infrastructure. I like what Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State is doing around Epe Division. The entire road network in Epe is on another scale. It means that you can live in Epe and work in Ikeja or on the Island. Coscharis is in Awoyaya, who would have thought that such a firm will come to Awoyaya? That is the effect of having good infrastructure in place,” he said.

    According to Ogunbodede, there is and there will always be demand for housing in the country. However, he said, what is lacking is the housing units to fit peoples’ pockets, and the housing type people put demands on. For instance, he explained that in the years the stock market boomed, people sold houses at N140 million to N150 million, because they made good returns on their stocks within a very short time. But things have since changed now meaning that developers and potential home investors have to check their pockets.

    On the increased survey fees being put in place by the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Ogunbodede said it is sending a dangerous signal to other professional bodies in the built environment. For instance, he explained that if a client is interested in buying a land for N4 million and he is being asked to pay N300, 000 as survey fees, then such a client can back out of such transaction.

    “I think it is not a fair thing to do at this time of recession; things like this can be a disservice to affordable housing which we all are trying to achieve,” he said.

  • Nigeria validates disaster risk reduction blueprints

    As the world prepares for talks on disaster reduction and risk management in Cancun, Mexico next month, Nigeria has received a boost that will assist her fulfil the requirements for the 15-year Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

    The blueprint offers the way forward to prevent and reduce disasters. It also offers a solution to saving lives and assets as well as reducing the burden on the government.

    The framework is an international document, which was adopted by United Nations member-states between March 14 and 18, 2015 at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in June 2015. It is the successor agreement to the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005–2015), which had been the most encompassing international accord to date on disaster risk reduction.

    A voluntary, non-binding agreement, the blueprint recognises that the country has the primary role to reduce disasters but that the responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders, including local governments, the private sector and other stakeholders

    For Nigeria, it was, therefore, instructive when, last week, stakeholders, under the aegis of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), converged on Keffi, Nasarawa State, where, after a two-day workshop, validated the National Plan of Action on the implementation on Sendai Framework on DRR, structure and framework for the national Platform on DRR and National Policy on Disaster Risk Reduction.

    The documents include: National Plan of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030); Structure and framework for the National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction; National Policy on Disaster Risk Reduction.

    As part of the Eighth Country Programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria/UNDP Plan of Action, NEMA developed these policy documents with the UN agency.

    Among the resolutions of the meeting was the need to set up a technical committee to produce a  structure for the National Platform. Another resolution was the need to develop a National Programme of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030).

    At the event, NEMADirector-General, Mustapha Maihaja, expressed optimism that the country would have in place a “validated policy document, implementable action plan and workable structure for the National Platform that meet requirements of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Management”.

    He revealed that the country instituted the National Platform for DRR in 2010 as an off-shoot of the global platform for DRR, which was first held in 2007.

    “At a similar meeting of African countries, the Sixth Session of Africa Regional Platform on DRR was hosted by Mauritius on November 22-25, 2016,” said Maihaja.

    UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, reaffirmed the belief of the UNDP in the crucial role of a fully functional National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in Nigeria.

    “This meeting as well as others held previously will reposition and revitalise the platform towards the development of a Programme of Action for the Sendai Framework, strengthen the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and SEMAs, while laying a good foundation for better multi-stakeholder response and management of disasters in the country,” he said.

    Kallon, also the Resident Representative of the UNDP Nigeria, commended the resuscitation of the platform by NEMA, which he said, was coming on the heels of the Africa regional meeting in Malabo. He described the development as a clear indication of “Nigeria’s strong commitment to the regional outcomes and the leading role it is playing in Africa”.

    His words: “It is expected that the platform will leverage the momentum from the regional platform to articulate a national plan of action, national implementation plan for the Sendai Framework as inputs into the upcoming meeting in Mexico.”

    At the workshop, sessions and presentations were anchored by Soji Adeniyi, Linda Akpami and Seth PTA. Some of the presentations included: “Presentation and consideration of recommendations for review structure of the national Platform for DRR”, “Presentation and consideration of the National Plan of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework”, “Presentation on data management for development planning and data integration strategies”, “Presentation and consideration of National Policy for DRR” and “Update and plans to finalise preparedness planning process”.

     

  • Our scorecard, by housing commissioner

    Our scorecard, by housing commissioner

    How has the Lagos State Ministry of Housing fared in the last two years? It has done well, says Commissioner Gbolahan Lawal. MUYIWA LUCAS reports

    Last Monday, Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Gbolahan Lawal, presented his mid-term scord.

    The event was the yearly ministerial briefing in Alausa, Ikeja. He said to boost supply, his ministry has prioritised the completion of its housing estates and entered into a deal with the private sector to do so.

    He said the government had introduced the Rent-to-Own and rental housing policies, to make housing affordable and accessible to the citizenry. The policies, Lawal said, are targeted at low and middle income earners.

     

    Rent-to-own Policy

    On Thursday, December 8, last year, he said, Ambode launched the Rent-To-Own and Rental housing Policies aimed at ensuring that  Lagosians irrespective of status, income and affiliations have access to decent shelter to improve their quality of life. Under the scheme, individuals are required to make a deposit of five per cent of the cost of the housing unit they wish to apply for as the commitment fee and the balance is spread over 10 years. This policy allows allottees to live in the property while paying towards ownership at a fixed rent over the 10 year period.

    To kickstart the scheme, the government dedicated a total of  5008 housing units in 12 housing estates spread across the state’s three Senatorial Districts. The Estates includes Sir Michael Otedola Estate, Odoragunshin, Epe,  336 units;  Chois City, Agbowa, 400 units; Alhaja Adetoun Mustapha Estate, Ojokoro, 32 units; Hon. Olaitan Mustapha Estate, Ojokoro, 48 units; Oba Adeboruwa Estate, Igbogbo- Ikorodu                256 units; Egan Igando Housing Estate, Alimosho, 684 units; Igando gardens, Igando Alimosho, 492 units; Igbogbo IIB Housing Estate, Igbogbo Ikorodu, 360units; Odo- Onosa/ Ayandelu,      660 units; Iponri Estate, Surulere, 132 units; Sangotedo Estate, Sangotedo, Eti- Osa, 1,188  units, and Ajara Estate, Badagry, 420 units. At present, about 500 Lagosians have benefited from this scheme.

    Lawal explained that the policy is not just about provision of shelter, it is also about economic stimulation and empowerment. “The new homes provided will require furniture and home gadgets such as electrical/ electronic appliances etc. The increase in demand for these items is expected to stimulate production and consequently economic growth,” he explained.

    The commissioner said the Rent-To-Own  programme is the cheapest and the easiest means of becoming a property owner in the state. Over 12,000 applications have been received, while 1,420 applicants from sectors, such as the public service; construction; banking and finance and informal sector have been pre-qualified.

    Lawal called for the support of the allottees, urging them to assume responsibility for the estates and its facilities. He admonished them to cooperate with the facilities managers appointed by Government in ensuring that the facilities are put to good use.

    “Efforts should be geared towards ensuring that the environments are kept clean always. The allottees are to ensure that they pay their rent as at when due and embrace maintenance culture. The Ministry has also taken over all abandoned Estates and working towards their completion so as to meet the need of the Rent-To-Own Policy,” he said.

    To ensure the sustainability of government housing estates, the Ministry has appointed facility managers for some of its estates while other estates are expected to have facility managers soon. This is to arrest deterioration of the estates.

     

    Rental housing policy

    This policy, Lawal said, allows the tenants to occupy government houses, paying monthly rents after an initial one month deposit. This policy is targeted at those with regular source of income who may be more interested in rental housing than home ownership. He said for this scheme, 20 per cent of the housing units dedicated to the Rent-to- Own policy were reserved for rental housing.

     

    Public-Private Partnership (

    The Commissioner said to ensure the sustenance of the Rent-To-Own scheme and meeting up with the high demand for housing units by Lagosians, the government, in partnership with private developers, is constructing 20,000 housing units in the next five years under the Lagos Affordable Public Housing (LAPH).

    Already, the government has approved joint venture partnership with six developers who have already mobilised to sites. The estates to be built under this partnership, will be christened “Jubilee Housing Estates” in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the state. They are to be sited in the following locations: Ijora Badiya, Imota, Ayobo, Idale (Badagry), Ilamoye-Isolo , Abijo, Tolu (Ajegunle) , Abule Ado, Ikota, Ibeshe, Owutu and Igbogbo.

    Towards the completion of Ilubirin housing estate, approval has been granted for the remodelling of the estate from a hitherto purely residential complex into a mixed development of residential, commercial and leisure through public private partnership (PPP). The commissioner also said that $5 million would be injected into the Illubirin estate within five years.

    “Ilubirin is a work-and-play environment, and the capital to be injected as at the last time, is $5million in five years,” Lawal said.

    He is hopeful that more private developers would be granted approval soon to increase the number of JVs.

     

    The Master Craftsman Project

    In the country, the dearth of skilled workforce made up of masons, carpenters, steel fabricators, plumbers, electricians, painters, and joiners, tillers, has been a major contributor to the problems of housing delivery.

    Stakeholders are worried that the housing and construction industry is becoming more and more dependent on foreigners to fill the skill gap created since indigenous artisans are gradually aging and there are not sufficient new ones being trained to replace them.

    This realisation necessitated the Master Craftsman Project initiative of the present government. Through the Ministry of Housing, the state has been able to create a platform through which artisans and workers in the built environment are trained and re-trained to acquire modern skill and be certified.

    The initiative, Lawal said, is intended to redress the dearth of skilled workers in the building industry. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with relevant professional bodies such as the Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB) and Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB).

    Under the programme, artisans were trained for six weeks at LASTVEB Technical  Centres in Ikotun, Ikorodu and Epe. They were trained on new approaches to do their job. Last year, the first set of craftsmen   were trained in masonry, furniture and carpentry, plumbing and pipe-works, electrical installations, painting and decorations. Their syllabus was based on the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) designed by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB).

    The Commissioner said the craftsmen at the end of the programme, were presented with their tools during the graduation  last month. One of them, Mr.  Murtala Kasali, praised the government for the project, saying that it is a platform to learn new ways of doing things.

    The commissioner said the craftsmen would be provided jobs in the various construction sites of the Ministry and also in maintenance works across the Ministry’s housing estates.

    In addition, a database of all certified Lagos State Master Craftsmen  has  been created for ease of reference for all Lagosians.