The Nation Newspaper

Category: Building & Properties

  • Chattel offers weekly land payment

    As Nigeria’s housing deficit up to 17 million? There are fears that this figure, which has been bandied about for years may not be true. Ascertaining the actual figure will require empirical checks or survey, say experts.

    Towards this end, an estate firm, Chattel Reality and Investment Company, has introduced a land scheme to eradicate land ownership problems in Lagos State.

    The scheme, on a site and service basis, with access roads, drainage, recreation centre and so on, would see more Nigerians owning land with ease under the payment model. It will avail the public the opportunity to pay N2, 500 for land purchased weekly if they so desire. One of the schemes with which the firm intends to achieve its plan is the Palms Villa Estate in Ibeju-Lekki and Ikorodu.

    Aside the 10 per cent discount offer on all land payment plans, the company is spreading payment options for purchased land up to four years. This, it says, is to give all low income earners an opportunity to be landlords in Lagos. For instance, to own a plot of land at Chattel Reality’s Palms Villa Estate in Ikorodu, an intending buyer can pay as low as N22,000 or N83,000 monthly for land in the Palms Villa Estate in Ibeju Lekki.

    Its Managing Director, Mr. Ifeanyi Okafor, explained that such initiative is one of the company’s strategies to get more Nigerians to invest in properties and own their own houses. “We must as a matter of urgency always look for incentives to encourage people to own their homes. Things are pretty difficult at the moment and many people might not be able to afford a huge sum of money to purchase a land not to talk of building a house. So for us, we are more interested in empowering people and helping them to achieve their dreams of becoming a landlord,” he explained.

    Okafor further disclosed that its site and service is a strategic plan and that in three years, the company would begin housing development. In five years, he said his firm would have provided 20, 000 Nigerians with opportunity to own their property.

    Chattel Realty and Investment Company Limited is an innovative real estate development company that engages in the development of master-planned housing estates. The company’s objective is to provide cutting-edge real estate solutions to the huge Nigerian real estate market, which yearns for affordable housing as well as other real estate investment products.

  • LASG says planning laws remains sacrosanct

    LASG says planning laws remains sacrosanct

    Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the enforcement of Physical Planning and Urban Development law of the state to stem the tide of unwholesome practices in the building industry. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Physical Planning Urban Development Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe at   the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Agency (LASPPPA) at Ojo Area of Lagos State. The theme of the meeting was “keying into the benefits of City Development for Urban Sustainability.”

    Anifowoshe admonished people to always build their structures in accordance with the approved building plans so as to avoid disorderliness and haphazard development in the Communities adding that Lagos State as a fast growing megacity is poised to ensure liveable and sustainable environment through constructive engagement of all stakeholders.

    The General Manager of the Physical Planning Permit Authority Mr. Toyin Abdul, the Convener of the stakeholders’ meeting, said the essence of the meeting was to deliberate on physical planning and development issues with a view of obtaining feedback from the stakeholders through interactive session. He said the sporadic urban growth in Ojo area has necessitated the preparation of Development Guides and the expansion of  Lagos –Badagry Express way as well as production of Badagry master plan which has spelt out some key projects such as health facilities, up-grading of schools, waterfront  development to mention a few.

    He stated that it is time to ensure total compliance to planning laws and regulations, saying procrastination to do the needful can no longer be allowed. “Let us learn and build in conformity with physical development plans’ law and regulations. We cannot continue to procrastinate as delay could be dangerous”, he warned.

    Unfolding government’s efforts to expedite development permit in the state, Abdul stated that 20 District Offices were created across the state, with Ojo local government included. Besides, to ensure easy retrieval of the development plan, the agency is working out a software code known as “LASPPPA Soft”, aimed at detailing recording of development permit. This is in addition to ease complication of approved building plans for gazetting, in collaboration with the Physical Planning Research and statistics Department.

    At the interactive session, Directors from the various Departments took turn to enlighten the gathering on the activities of their Departments and the process of obtaining necessary approvals and permits. The Building Materials Testing Laboratory Agency was also at hand to sensitise the people on activities it also stressed the need for people to subject the building materials to testing so as to ensure of the quality of materials being used for construction. This according to him would stem the incidence of building collapse.

    Responding to the issue raised by the Ojo market leader on the markets removed to pave the way for the expansion of Badagry Express road, he appealed to the market association to be patient with the government saying that removal of such markets was for the good of all. “Your socio-economic life will improve, your property will attract more value and transportation will become easy and affordable,” he explained.

    Responding to complaint by the Bricklayers’ Association on low patronage and preference of foreign Artisans to their Nigerian counterpart,  Anifowose  said the building industry is very competitive and for the bricklayers to occupy their right position in the building industry they have to upscale their skills and register under a builder adding that the best person would always get the job as nobody would patronise anybody whose competence was in doubt.

    However, a group of Professionals in the built environment  appealed to the government to create space  for facilities such as the General Hospital and burial ground in the Ojo master plan, while the Community Development Associations sought government assistance  in securing land to execute Community  development projects.

  • Quacks threat to architects, says Ige

    Quacks threat to architects, says Ige

    Former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Osun State, Mr. Muyiwa Ige, an architect, has said the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Act 2004 can stamp out quacks from the profession.

    Ige, a two-time chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) Oyo State Chapter, regretted that quacks’ activities were posing a threat to the jobs of qualified professionals in the industry.

    Presently, he said, registered architects are less than 4,000 and  over 6,000 associate members, excluding several unregistered architects. And with the country’s population of 170 million and a housing deficit that is hovering between 18 million and 20 million, architects are in huge demand.

    “This shows that there are a lot of opportunities for architects in Nigeria and as a result of this, I am of the opinion that architects must take their rightful place now,” he said.

    Ige, who is the son to Nigeria’s assassinated Attorney-General and minister of justice, Chief Bola Ige, is  seeking election to become the new Third Vice President of the NIA at its biennial general meeting scheduled for November 21. He said the age long rivalry between  architects and their foreign counterpart is nowhere to be found now  as architects have performed more excellently over the years.

    “There is no competition with foreign architects because there is nothing that they know that we don’t know better. The truth of the matter is that the ARCON Act states that only architects registered in Nigeria can practice. Yes, foreign architects are coming in because the world is a global village but they must have a Nigerian architect on the minimum as a director of the company,’’ he explained.

    He promised to be in the vanguard of ensuring that the institute grow membership with young architects who will end up being the future of the institute.

    “If i win the election as the Third Vice President on November 21,  I will ensure that all my energy is used to elevate the institute till I eventually become the President in 2021. I will make sure that I will be at the vanguard of growing membership and ensure that young architects come to the fore and take their rightful position in the built environment. Issues like registration of young architects and that of registration of schools are going to be adequately addressed,” he assured.

  • Chattel offers weekly land payment

    as Nigeria’s housing deficit up to 17 million? There are fears that this figure, which has been bandied about for years may not be true. Ascertaining the actual figure will require empirical checks or survey, say experts.

    Towards this end, an estate firm, Chattel Reality and Investment Company, has introduced a land scheme to eradicate land ownership problems in Lagos State.

    The scheme, on a site and service basis, with access roads, drainage, recreation centre and so on, would see more Nigerians owning land with ease under the payment model. It will avail the public the opportunity to pay N2, 500 for land purchased weekly if they so desire. One of the schemes with which the firm intends to achieve its plan is the Palms Villa Estate in Ibeju Lekki and Ikorodu.

    Aside from the 10 per cent discount offer on all land payment plans, the company is spreading payment options for purchased land up to four years. This, it says, is to give all low income earners an opportunity to be landlords in Lagos. For instance, to own a plot of land at Chattel Reality’s Palms Villa Estate in Ikorodu, an intending buyer can pay as low as N22,000 or N83,000 monthly for land in the Palms Villa Estate in Ibeju Lekki.

    Its Managing Director, Mr. Ifeanyi Okafor, explained that such initiative is one of the company’s strategies to get more Nigerians to invest in properties and own their own houses. “We must as a matter of urgency always look for incentives to encourage people to own their homes. Things are pretty difficult at the moment and many people might not be able to afford a huge sum of money to purchase a land not to talk of building a house. So for us, we are more interested in empowering people and helping them to achieve their dreams of becoming a landlord,” he explained.

    Okafor further disclosed that its site and service is a strategic plan and that in three years, the company would begin housing development. In five years, he said, his firm would have provided 20, 000 Nigerians with opportunity to own their property.

    Chattel Realty and Investment Company Limited is an innovative real estate development company that engages in the development of master-planned housing estates. The company’s objective is to provide cutting-edge real estate solutions to the huge Nigerian real estate market, which yearns for affordable housing as well as other real estate investment products.

  • Vitapur’s prefab can bridge housing gap, say Ajimobi, Kwankwaso, others

    Oyo State government and the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Builders have endorsed the new pre-fabricated building by Vitapur Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc. Besides, they praised Vitafoam for its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, which  addresses fundamental needs of humanity, despite the ‘harsh’ operating environment.

    At the inauguration of the two pre-fabricated buildings donated by  Vitafoam Group to the Government College in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola, described the firm’s gesture as a strategic way  to take care of one of the basic needs of people.

    The governor said the CSR was the hallmark of sacrifice that  organisations could give back to the society that had done well for them.

    While recommending the pre-fabricated buildings to everyone, he said: “I would like to say a big thank you to the Board, management and staff of the Vitafoam Group for donating these two Pre- fabricated buildings constructed by Vitapur Nigeria Limited along with full furniture such as Sofas, Kitchen cabinets, Ward robes Mattresses and Pillows supplied by other Vitafoam subsidiaries to complement the edifices donated to the Government College Ibadan.”

    In what also amounted to an endorsement by all  builders, the chairman, Lagos State Institute of Builders, Mr. Ashimiyu Bashir declared that pre-fabricated buildings were of interest to all builders in globally.

    At the same occasion,  the former governor of Kano State, Senator Musa Rabiu Kwankwanso also commended Vitapur Nigeria Limited for the innovative pre-fabricated buildings and explained that it would be an option to the Federal Government in its efforts to address housing deficit in Nigeria

    The Managing Director, Vitafoam Group, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, explained that Vitapur Nigeria Limited had blazed the trail by acquiring a new state-of-the-art sandwich panel production line, which can produce a maximum length of 14.7 metre with varying thickness, the first of its kind in West Africa.

    According to him, Vitapur Sandwich panels can be used for constructing pre-fabricated structures; cold rooms; equipment shelters; quick shelter development; office partitioning; shopping malls; drop temp ceilings and others. Commenting on the benefits of rigid insulation board, Adeniyi said: “Vitapur Polyurethane Rigid Insulation board comes in various facings depending on intended application. These Insulation boards can be used as wall, floor and roof insulation. For new buildings, boards are usually used over the purlin before the roofing sheets while Vitapur spray foam application is preferred for existing roofs.”

    Adeniyi, who described Vitafoam as an integrated system, said all its subsidiaries are contributing effectively to the innovative products. He further stated that the inherent adaptability and durability of Vitapur’s prefabricated building units’ means that buildings can be developed to fulfill the needs of even the most demanding or obscure applications, creating functional buildings that are time and cost efficient, durable, adaptable and sustainable.

    Vitafoam Chairman, Dr. Dele Makanjuola explained that the project was borne out of the Corporate Social Responsibility that Vitafoam had got accustomed to and also to showcase another arm of the company’s business.

    Makanjuola noted that the company’s foam products are faster, easier and more efficient to mass housing construction in Nigeria.

    According to him, it has also proved that mass housing for our beloved country and Nigerians can be achieved faster, cheaper and with more effective and efficient means. He emphasised the uniqueness of prefabricated building in the area of insulation and stated that Vitapur had gone commercial in the production of panels for constructing pre-fabricated buildings.

  • HomeOwners’ Charter: Amosun distributes ninth batch of Cs of O

    HomeOwners’ Charter: Amosun distributes ninth batch of Cs of O

    The Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has distributed the ninth batch of Homeowner’s Charter Scheme Certificate of Occupancy to beneficiaries in Abeokuta, the state capital. He was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa.
    The Governor used the occasion to assure citizens that all programmes aimed at realising the re-building mission of his administration would be realised and all on-going projects would be completed and delivered as scheduled.
    He applauded all concerned agencies for ensuring the success of the programme, pointing out that critics, who had despised the initiative at inception, had seen its sincerity of purpose from the cooperation and number of C of O dispatched so far.
    He, therefore, appealed for support and understanding of the people in the face of dwindling economic challenges, promising that no stone would be left unturned at making the state self-sustaining.
    “We are working round the clock to increase our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) so that our state can be self-sustaining and reduce over-reliance on the federal allocation,” he said.
    In a similar vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Amope Chokor, said the Home-Owners’ Charter programme was designed by the state to enable property owners possess legal titles on their land. She said it would be a continuous process as it would help government to know the areas where there was serious infrastructural deficit.
    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Motunrayo Ogundipe commended the state government for its sincerity, saying that many people, who doubted the government’s good intentions on the scheme at inception, have now seen that the Amosun government is sincere.
    It would be recalled that on December 16, 2013, the state government had initiated the Home Owners’ Charter Scheme aimed at making landlords obtain their Certificates of Occupancy at 78 per cent discount.

  • NIESV’s recipe for housing deficit

    The Nigerian Institution of Estate Valuers (NIESV)’s Faculty of Housing, has announced the fourth edition of its annual summit. The theme for this year’s summit, which holds on November 19, at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Center & Suites, Abuja is “Effective housing delivery models through community development.”

    The 2015 Conference chairman, Elder Biodun Odeleye, explained that the NIESV’s Faculty of Housing strategically chose the theme because its research and practical experience on housing problems, which have brought to the fore potent and effective methods to tackle the problems militating against effective housing delivery in Nigeria.

    The fourth edition, according to the chairman, promises to bring to the fore, for the benefit of the general public and the government, realistic models, which shall be affordable and provide a veritable tool for reducing the deficit in the housing sector in Nigeria. The World Bank has put the deficit at 17 million.

    The lead paper at the summit, titled: “Effective Housing Delivery Models through Community Development Concept”, will be delivered by Professor Olumide Olusanya of the Department of Architecture, University of Lagos. Other papers to be presented include: “Affordability for Informal Housing Clusters” by Mr. Bode Afolayan, the immediate past president, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN); “Arresting Urban Decay through Effective Housing Management Strategies”, to be presented by Mr. Darlington Uzu, CEO, Crown Estate Limited, Lekki, Lagos.

    Lead discussants at the summit include NIESV’s second Vice President, Rowland Abonta; Professor Timothy Nubi of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos; and Mr. Akin Olawore, principal consultant, Akin Olawore & Co, Lagos.

  • Lagos set for action against indiscriminate borehole drilling

    Lagos set for action against indiscriminate borehole drilling

    Unless urgent steps are taken, Lagos State may run short of fresh water, experts have said. They say there is a serious threat of its water being polluted by sea water. The situation, the experts warned, could further be compounded as a result of indiscriminate drilling of boreholes littering the littoral state.

    Speaking at a two-day retreat organised for stakeholders in water business in Lagos, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC), Mr Kabir Abdullahi, siad: “Lagos is surrounded by salt water and we are currently experiencing salt intrusion into the fresh water bodies because of this illegal drilling. If this continues, it means the fresh water that we have, especially in Lekki axis, will be destroyed and we must arrest such development.”

    The theme of the retreat was: “Lagos State Ground Water Quality Control Regulation”.

    Consequently, the Commission has begun the registration of borehole drillers. This, Abdullahi explained, is to put a stop to the indiscriminate and shoddy drilling of boreholes by quacks. For instance, he observed that several boreholes are dug at a spot which may be close to cesspit and the sewage from such has been found to contaminate the water supply of many homes and communities. For him, this is the time to fully implement the Lagos Water Law of 2004 considering that it has passed through 10 years of testing.

    Abdullahi, in a chat with The Nation said the Commission will soon embark on a survey of existing boreholes in the state to ascertain their state and water quality from them. Those that fall below standard, he assured, would be decommissioned.

    While commending  the Commission for the retreat, the National President, Association of Waterwell Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), Mr. Michael Ale, said the state has taken the lead among its peers in implementing a code of drilling. The initiative, Ale noted, would further help to prevent disasters such as earthquakes and outbreak of epidemic such as cholera in the state and the country at large.

    Consultant hydrologist to the LSWRC, Dr. Akomeno Oteri, explained that just as all legal drilling of crude oil was registered with the Federal Government, all borehole drilling activities also would be registered with the state government.

    At the end of the retreat, a communique was signed by all the stakeholders. Included in the communique were that steps must be taken to checkmate and regulate indiscriminate drilling activities by unlicenced, unprofessional drillers; haphazard water abstraction without recourse to the condition of the aquifer and water table; pollution of the ground water leading to increase in cases of water borne disease; and effect of climate change on the ground water.

  • Commissioner tours project sites

    Lagos State Commissioner for Housing Mr. Gbolahan Wasiu Lawal–Akapo has inspected projects under his Ministry.  He was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olatunji Odunlami and Special Adviser to the governor on Housing, Mrs. Mudirat Giwanson.

    He visited Lagos State Homes Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS) in Omole Estate, Igando, Oko–Oba, Agege, Chief Anthony Enahoro Housing Estate Ogba, Omole Phase 2, and Magodo.

    According to the commissioner, the tour was to familiarise him with the Lagos HOMS sites and to see the level of work done. “I want to see all the sites that we have, where construction works are ongoing,” he explained.

    In a chat with The Nation, the Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the level of work done so far, assuring that his future plan is to look at the projects left by the last administration, review and appraise and come up with a strategy to improve on what was met in order to  close the housing gap between the high earners and the low income earners because ‘’the high income earners can always build their own houses.

    The commissioner, who admonished all allottees and would want them to be calm  as they would have the opportunity to benefit from the state’s housing scheme, reiterated the commitment of the administration to put  in its best  to provide housing for the people of the state.

    “Lagos has a very large percentage of middle class people, we cannot afford to ignore them,’’ he said.

    Lawal-Akapo disclosed that there will be an analysis on where there are demands and where there are no demands for houses, and the ministry will come up with the right assumptions for the future, even as he said the government will come out with analytical facts in providing an appropriate housing policy for the people of Lagos State.

  • HomeOwners’ Charter: Amosun distributes ninth batch of C of O

    HomeOwners’ Charter: Amosun distributes ninth batch of C of O

    The Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has distributed the ninth batch of Homeowner’s Charter Scheme Certificate of Occupancy to beneficiaries in Abeokuta, the state capital. He was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa.

    The Governor used the occasion to assure citizens that all programmes aimed at realising the re-building mission of his administration would be realised and all on-going projects would be completed and delivered as scheduled.

    He applauded all concerned agencies for ensuring the success of the programme, pointing out that critics, who had despised the initiative at inception, had seen its sincerity of purpose from the cooperation and number of C of O dispatched so far.

    He, therefore, appealed for support and understanding of the people in the face of dwindling economic challenges, promising that no stone would be left unturned at making the state self-sustaining.

    “We are working round the clock to increase our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) so that our state can be self-sustaining and reduce over-reliance on the federal allocation,” he said.

    In a similar vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Amope Chokor, said the Home-Owners’ Charter programme was designed by the state to enable property owners possess legal titles on their land. She said it would be a continuous process as it would help government to know the areas where there was serious infrastructural deficit.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Motunrayo Ogundipe commended the state government for its sincerity, saying that many people, who doubted the government’s good intentions on the scheme at inception, have now seen that the Amosun government is sincere.

    It would be recalled that on December 16, 2013, the state government had initiated the Home Owners’ Charter Scheme aimed at making landlords obtain their Certificates of Occupancy at 78 per cent discount.