The Nation Newspaper

Category: Building & Properties

  • Ogun to resume rehabilitation of rural roads

    The Ogun State government has assured rural dwellers that it will re-embark on the rehabilitation of rural roads in the state as soon as the rains subside.

    The Permanent Secretary. Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Kayode Ademolake, made this known in a  statement signed by the agency’s Press Officer, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso.

    According to the statement, government has already rehabilitated over 1,235 kilometres of rural roads with culverts across the 20 local government areas of the state.

    “A lot has been done on rural roads, there is heavy down pour, most rural roads are hard tones and if you grade rural roads during the rainy season it would amount to waste of public funds. Immediately the rain stops we would move in and start grading of all these roads,” the statement read in part.

    Ademolake assured that the Ministry would continue to carry out construction and rehabilitation of roads within the state, adding that 30 kilometres road in Ijebu-Ode-Epe garage passing through Idowa to Ilese had been rehabilitated.

    “We have moved to the junction at Sagamu-Benin Express road and Ogbere this is a distance of about 10 kilometres. In recent times too we have had cause to carry out palliative works in Abeokuta metropolis which included Adatan to Lafenwa road and others too numerous to mention in order to ensure that our roads are motor able this rainy season,” he explained.

    He said the state, through the ministry, is trying to repair the damaged portion of the bridge at Adigbe road in Obafemi- Owode Local Government Area, which links Obada across the river Ogun. The damage occurred as a result of river Ogun’s encroachment on the embankment of the bridge.

  • Ogun deploys CORS to enhance land administration

    As part of its efforts to ensure that land administration meets global standard and enhance the economic value of the state, the Ogun State Government has set up three Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and Agbara areas of the state. The CORS is a multipurpose, automated, global positioning system (GPS) based equipment, which forms an essential tool for the Geographical Information System (GIS) used by governments, scientists, surveyors, construction companies and other professionals.

    The Director-General for Bureau of Lands and Survey, Mr. Adewale Oshinowo, who made this known earlier in the week, explained that the facilities are the reason for the enormous contribution to the development of various land reforms in the state.

    According to Oshinowo, CORS is capable of receiving information continuously without any interference, adding that the three stations out of seven proposed for effective coverage, had internet connection making them visible globally. CORS, he further explained, beam across over 70 kilometers radius, each with an overlap to produce corrections and give accurate location of boundaries.

    “The CORS in Ogun State is the backbone of GIS, which has made survey easy and is being used to capture, store, analyse, share, manage and display all types of spatial and attributes data in the bureau. It has helped to centrally manage land, supported the digitalisation of Certificate of Occupancy production as against the manual process, and helped in the quick determination of water level and its position in effective management of flood,” he explained.

    Extolling the capabilities of the CORS, Oshinowo emphasised that the system addresses issues such as the distribution, archiving, quality control of the data that it collects and records GPS observation data all the time. Through the use of CORS, the agricultural sector and land use, the DG explained, could be analysed for proper management.

  • Cleaner City: LAGOS goes tough on street trading

    The Lagos State Goverment has vowed to combat the menace of illegal street trading and hawking in the state  metropolis. This is part of its effort to attain a cleaner and healthier environment.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Oluwatoyin Onisarotu, said traders who that fail to abide by State Environmental Sanitation Law would henceforth face the full wrath of the law.

    “It is disheartening to see how our major roads and highways like Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ikorodu road, Agege motor road, Victoria Island, Ikoyi-Obalende, Ojuelegba – Stadium, Surulere, Oyingbo, Carter bridge, Idumota, Oshodi, Ketu, Mile 12,Third Mainland bridge, Cele, Iyana-Ipaja, Agbado Oke-Odo, Airport Road, Ikeja, amongst others have been converted to illegal markets,” he said.

    Onisarotu, therefore, warned traders engaging in this illegal act to desist as the state government would not compromise any act that may derail the effort of the government in achieving a cleaner environment in the state, warning that state environmental sanitation law forbids anybody from converting the road median, setbacks and walkways to any trading activities.

    He said the state governor, Mr.Akinwuni Ambode, has mandated Law Enforcement Officers and Regulatory Agencies to ensure compliance with the provision of the state Sanitation Laws forthwith.

  • ASO Savings promises on quality at Garden Estate

    Leading primary mortgage firm,  ASO Savings and Loans Plc, says prospective buyers of its ASO Garden Estate need not worry about the quality of infrastructure and other essential facilities that will be in the estate, as they would be of the highest international standard.

    The Managing Director of Aso Savings, Hassan Musa Usman, gave this assurance while hosting to the MD/CEO, Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), Prof. Charles Inyangete, who visited the estate recently. He revealed that the estate was a product of the bank’s vision of providing affordable housing to Nigerians desirous of living in a safe environment in the federal capital territory, Abuja.

    Usman said the estate would change the face of property market in Abuja, adding that it aims at breaking the price jinx associated with premium properties in the city with its flexible payment plans, which does not require a prospective buyer breaking his bank account before owning a decent home in Abuja.

    ASO Garden Estate,  a 900-housing-unit being built on a 27-hectares of land, is located just after Gwarinpa, on the Kubwa Express Road, within the Karsana East District, which is part of Abuja Phase IV. It is being planned as an affordable property that the middle income earners can afford. The promoters assured that the estate will boast of a neighbourhood shopping centre, children’s playground and park, ample parking space, hospital, police post, fire service and  school, adding that it is offering all the amenities at very affordable prices.

    While inspecting the estate, Inyangete praised the management of ASO Savings for the quality work done on the project, adding that the estate exemplified affordable mass housing, which was the main thrust of NMRC. He urged other primary mortgage institutions  to emulate ASO Savings efforts at making housing available and affordable for Nigerians.

    With flats at a starting price of N17 million,  phase 1 of the estate comprises 249 housing units made up of two and three-bedroom exquisite blocks of flats and four-bedroom terraces, and is at 80 per cent completion; it is planned for inauguration in November this year. The flats are  six per block, and each has two (or three) bedrooms, with open plan living, kitchen area, all rooms en-suite. Individually priced starting at N17 million for the two bedroom and N23 million for the three-bedroom flats respectively.The four-bedroom terraces offer a well-planned living accommodation set over two floors; these terraces have stylish features like an open floor plan. There are four bedrooms on the first and second floors, all en-suite as well as a spacious kitchen. There is an adjoining dining area on the ground floor.

    When completed, the estate will offer 900 homes ranging from two and three bedroom apartments, four bedroom terraces to five bedroom fully detached luxury houses.

  • Ogijo land: Police accused of complicity in land dispute

    Ogijo land: Police accused of complicity in land dispute

    A faction of the Ipetoro family of Ogijo, Ogun State, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of surreptitiously subverting an investigation into a disputed land involving two factions of the family. The land, measuring 110 arces, is dispute is located in Ojijo, Ogun State.

    The family faction, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, said the police action or inaction had made another faction of the family to constitute itself into nuisance, terrorising the community with dangerous arms and weapons.

    The Counsel to the petitioners, Mr. Ebiwonjumi Obatayo of E. Obatayo and Co,  said on August 5, that his client had forwarded a petition, which he signed on behalf of the family to the office of the IGP on the matter for prompt action which he claimed was given attention, as the petition was approved and assigned to the Federal SARS, Abuja, to investigate the veracity of the allegation as contained in the petition    .

    But regrettably, Obatayo alleged, instead of allowing investigations into the matter, the land grabbers wrote a separate petition to the Ogun State Police Command, Abeokuta to thwart the SARS’ efforts. He also alleged that the counter petition was masterminded by Sheriff Akaun, fronting for the other family, a retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Usman Akaun and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Adesina, who he claimed, were the OC of X-Squad in Abeokuta.

    “The modus oparandi of these police officers is to harass, intimidate, molest, and level series of criminal llegations against my clients, and in the process, extort them of very huge amount of money. Besides, the other family faction boasted that the Policemen and the Force as an institution, is in their pocket and they will frustrate the investigation of the petition,’’ he said.

    Obatayo added that when the Deputy Inspector General of Police directed the officers accused of taking side with other faction to hand over the case file to the officer of SARS, the directive was not adhered to. This impunity, he reckoned, has led to the suspects taking over the village, causing mayhem, and making life unbearable for the entire community.

    When The Nation property contacted the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, he explained that the petition from the two groups was sent to the State’s Commissioner of Police (CP), and the matter referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for proper investigation.

    Adejobi explained that he would not like to make much comment on the matter since he has not seen the reports of the petition. He, however, said since the matter is still under investigation, it would be wrong for anybody to accuse the Police of complicity. He declined knowledge of any complaint against the police on the matter, and advised any aggrieved person to approach the CP first before any other thing, since he is convinced the CP has not received complaint against police action or inaction on the matter.

    “But, I know we handle such a matter. And if anybody thinks we are not handling the matter properly, the group or any individual having grudges against the police should approach the CP and complain of anything they noticed,” Adejobi offered.

  • Lagos agencies kick as family alleges violation of Court’s order

    Lagos agencies kick as family alleges violation of Court’s order

    •Row over plot(s) of land deepens

    For failing to adhere to an initial pronouncement of a court, a Lagos family has dragged the Lagos State Urban and Renewal Authority (LASURRA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to court, filling Form 48-  for notice of consequence of disobedience to Order of Court. The family is accusing LASURA and LASBCA of violating an earlier order granted on November 26, 2014, when Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, granted an ex-parte order retraining the Defendants (LASURA and LABSCA) from further demolishing the property in dispute. Other  defendants include the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and the state government.

    The Notice dated August 6, 2015, against the General Manager, LASURA stated: “Take notice that unless you obey the directive contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison unless you purge yourself of the contempt.” This latest action is precipitated on the complete demolition and subsequent erection of structures on the disputed property on Plot 49 Martins, Street, Lagos, allegedly by the Lagos State agencies, notwithstanding an existing court order restraining both parties from doing anything that will jeopardise the case in court.

    Obviously embittered about the current development, the family (Claimants) represented by Alhaja Medinat Onimole, Mr. Dotun Alokolaro and Alhaja Mutiat Hassan on behalf of the family of late Alhaja Taibat Shitta and Alhaja Hadikat Talabi, expressed disappointment over what they termed “illegality” on the part of the government, pointing out that they were surprised that government could be involved in such an illegality by flagrantly disobeying court pronouncements.

    But in a swift reaction to the alleged violation of the order, Mr. Benedict Kehinde, General Manager, LASURA, wondered why the family made the matter a media affair. “There is a court injunction binding on the state government, and the government has violated the injunction, instead of going back to the court, they decided to go to the press. Doesn’t that strike you? They ought to have challenged the violation order in court instead of complaining to you journalists. That should strike you,” the LASURA boss said.

    He, however, explained why his agency is carrying out the construction at the site despite the  order. Kehinde explained that the disputed property is not one, but Plots 49 and 51, Martins Street, pointing out that before the state acquired properties on Martins Street in 1959, there were two properties on plots 49 and 51, but looked like one  because there was no clear demarcation between the two.

    According to him, having acquired the plots, the government duly paid compensation to the property owners and the payments were duly signed for, brandishing a document in support of his claims. He added that the claimants had willingly withdrawn from pursuing the matter when they were told by the court that they had no case, as they were told that the site was acquired by the government and compensations paid to the owners. He, however, regretted that the family members went back to the court in pursuance of the matter.

    Kehinde’s claims are, however, at variance with the deposition of the claimants, who said they have been in possession of the property for over 30 years, up until October 24, 2014, when it was alleged the agents of the state government, aided by security operatives, “invaded the property in dispute, removing the burglaries, doors and windows affixed to the property forcibly evicting the tenants from their shops”.

    While granting the prayers to the motion in the suit, number LD/ 7688/2014, Justice Oshodi ordered the parties to maintain the status quo while adjourning the matter for the hearing of the Motion on Notice and Forms 17 & 18 in line with the provision of Order 38 Rule 2.  “Due to the peculiar nature of the facts of this case, it will be prudent for the court to maintain status quo of the Respondents. In this respect, the Court hereby order that parties, especially the 2nd and 3rd Defendants, do maintain status quo as at today,” Justice Oshodi ordered.

    The family appealed to the governor to use his good offices to intervene in the matter, especially by calling its agencies to order, because such impunity does not give hope to the poor man.

  • BCPG moves against illegal cement re-bagging

    The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has urged the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CEMAN) to hold regular training and re-orientation sessions for cement distributors and retailers. This according to the guild, will further educate them on the implications sharp practices of illegal re-bagging of cement with the aim of discouraging same.

    BCPG President, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, in a in a letter to CEMAN said the essence of packaging cement at 50kg quantity per bag is to ensure consistency in mix ratio on site. He explained that when such quantity is deliberately reduced by some dubious cement distributors and retailers actuated by profiteering, then structural defects in building become imminent.

    “The sharp practice of cement quantity depletion is prevalent in the building material markets in Nigeria, especially in Abuja and Port Harcourt. It is unfortunate that this illegal practice has been in existence for long without serious efforts to checkmate it. And it remains a big headache for construction practitioners,” the letter, dated July 2, read in part.

    The guild noted that head pans are the common gauge   This, it explained, is for ease of transportation and lifting, as a bag of cement of 50kg, is the equivalent of two head pans by volume.

    The letter further explained that “a mix ratio of 1:2:4, which is traditionally expected to attain a strength of 20N/mm2 at 28 days, the translation into practice is one head pan of cement (that is, half a bag of cement) will be added to two head pans of fine aggregate such as sharp sand and four head pans of coarse aggregate that could be clean gravel or granite. Then water of appropriate proportion is used to mix the cement and the aggregates together in a workability and compaction that will eventuate in the required strength at 28 days.”

    The group then cautioned that a reduction in the quantity of cement contained in a standard bag, though might not be noticeable, constitutes a serious danger to the overall strength of a concrete. The same is applicable to cement-sand ratio in screeding, rendering and block moulding.

    According to the BCPG, its investigations revealed that the unscrupulous act of cement re-bagging has been buoyed by greed and competition within the circles of some cement distributors and retailers. “The intention to attract customers by deliberately lowering the price, usually between N50 and N100 against the general market price, is identified as the major cause of re-bagged cement syndrome,” the BCPG observed.

  • Court restrains firm, Lagos, on Lekki property tussle

    A Lagos High Court has ordered that parties in a suit involving a firm, QMB Investments Limited, and the Lagos State Government (LASG) and its agency, the New Towns Development Authority (NTDA), maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit before it over a disputed land matter between the two parties. QMB Investments Limited, had dragged LASG before the courts for adjudication over a disputed landed property. The firm’s decision to challenge the state government followed an alleged proposal by the government, through its agency, NTDA, to convert the original use of a landed property located at Plot 8, Block 138, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1, Lagos State, known as NEPA Reservation to another use.

    The said land, according to QMB, is an extension of its landed property, but designated as NEPA Reservation in a layout plan attached to the land’s Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued by the state. Mr. Oluwemimo Ogunde (SAN), led other lawyers to represent QMB Investments Limited, while Mr. Akinjide Bakare, a Deputy Director, Lagos’ Ministry of Justice, appeared for the state.

    In its originating summons, the claimant sought the court to determine whether by the combined provisions of Sections 1, 59, 60 and 102 of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 3 2010 (as amended), the first defendant and the Lands Bureau in the office of the Governor of Lagos State have the legal capacity and power to issue the contravention notices of  April 23, 2015 and May 4, 2015 against it.

    On these said dates, the NTDA served contravention notices titled: ‘Important notice – illegal occupation of state land’ on QMB, making the firm to rush to the Court for adjudication, suing the NTDA and the Attorney-General of the state, as first and second defendants respectively.

    The claimant also wants the court to determine whether “Assuming, but without conceding that the answer to questions 1 and 2 is in the affirmative, whether the portion of land opposite the claimant’s plot (Plot 8, Block 138, Lekki Peninsula Residential. Scheme 1, Lagos State) known as NEPA Reservation in Plan No. LS/D/LA 516b constitutes Block 139, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos State in the Operative Development Plan contained in the claimant’s Certificate of Occupancy of 14th June, 1998?”

    Based on the aforementioned issues, QMB is requesting that the court should declare that with regard to the combined provisions of Sections 1, 59, 60 and 102 of the state Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law no. 3 2010, the first defendant lacks the legal capacity and power to issue the contravention notice against it and as such the said contravention notice is invalid, illegal, null and void.

    The claimant also sought that the court should declare that the state’s Land Bureau lacks the legal capacity and power to issue the purported contravention against it and as such the said contravention notice is invalid, illegal, null and void.

    QMB, therefore sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or other representatives from using or permitting the user of the portion of land which is known and described as NEPA Reservation for any other purpose contrary to that description and purpose and more particularly restraining the defendants whether by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or other representatives howsoever called from dividing or sub-dividing the said portion of land into plots for use as residential, official, business or commercial premises or for any other use contrary to that which is contained in the Operative Development Plan in Plan No. LS/D/LA 516b without following the procedure set down in Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16,17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 102 of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No 3 2-010 (as amended).

  • ‘Why we are searching for investors in Nigeria’

    The Chief Executive Officer, Monarch International Company, James Bowling, has said privileged individuals in Nigeria should  invest in property and residency abroad for the future of their family.

    He said the interest of the company in Nigeria is to enable potential investors invest in residency, citizenship and property abroad, adding that the firm is in Nigeria to open a new way of opportunities to interesting partners.

    Speaking at a workshop organised by the company in Port Harcourt, Mr. Bowling said every property invested in, will attract some royalty and would also give investors the opportunity to travel to over 150 countries in the world.

    He said his company is doing well in Africa and Europe, but still new in Nigeria where it is searching for serious and potential opportunities.

    He noted that the properties are affordable, though to be paid in dollars, but comparable to other property bought in Nigeria depending on the location of the property.

    “Monarch International Company is into residency, citizenship and property, we are new in Nigeria we believe that we will have more applicants here who will invest abroad, Nigeria has a wealthy individual, who can take the great opportunity in life to invest abroad.

    ”We secure the future of our clients, by ensuring his residency in any of the countries where he bought his or her property. We also assist our clients to interact with the government of the country where these properties are located. We also assist with money transfer and other businesses,” he said.

    Its West Africa Managing Director, Mr. Gerald Lebechi, said the response in Africa made the company to believe that Nigeria would be a better place for its future investment.

    “There is a very strong response in Africa, Nigeria is just new but we have received a lot of applications, we have been operating from South-Africa for eight years now, our focus now is on African expansion, like Ghana, Angola, Congo and the rest of African countries.

    “The challenge here is getting documentation and the biggest challenge is getting the buyer of the residency and property.

    “We try to give our plans to the investors, we are telling our investors that they should not wait and miss this golden opportunity,” he said.

  • Structural engineers to govt.: engage us

    Structural engineers to govt.: engage us

    The national president of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE), a division of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Dr. Samuel Ilugbekhai, has identified the non-involvement of local professionals, particularly, structural engineers, as a reason for the spate of failed projects in the country. He lamented that even where local expertise existed, there was a clear preference for foreign practitioners in contract awards.

    He called on the various levels of governments –federal, states and locals- to reconsider this position because Nigerian engineers have the competence and exposure to undertake any construction project ranging from the designing and execution of the jobs.

    According to Ilugbekhai, employing Nigerians is not only cheaper, but provides room for quality job and ample opportunity to expose young practitioners to the rudiments of engineering works.

    He warned that giving foreigners a free hold in the construction industry, including award of contracts to them at the expense of Nigerians, is counter-productive for the desired quest for national development, as such expatriates would increase capital flights and use the country’s resources to develop their own citizens.

    Insisting that no country can develop by neglecting her own professionals, Ilugbekhai said: “We have the confidence that our people are up to the task, but the truth is that the patronage we get is not up to the expectation and this we want the new administration to take note of.

    “Look at our railway, most of the projects are given to the foreigners, without Nigerians’ input. And that is why we cannot develop our own prototype that can well suit our environment,” he said, adding that Nigerians should be given the jobs and be encouraged to bring on board foreign partners if need be, and not vice-versa.

    The engineering body expressed concern over the recent building collapse in Lagos. Tracing the spate of building collapse in the country, he lamented that it has rendered efforts of organisations such as NIStruuctE, and other stakeholders in combating the menace, useless.

    “On the 12th of September 2014, a 7-storey building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed, killing about 116 people, 84 of whom were foreigners. On  July 9,  a 5-storey building under construction at No 42, Commercial Avenue Yaba collapsed. About six days later, precisely July1 5,  a 4-storey building collapsed at No 29A Oloto Street Ebute Meta, Lagos, with similar stories in other parts of the country,” Ilugbekhai recalled.

    NIStructE, according to him, plans to hold a conference to further educate the public and practitioners in the construction industry.

    The conference, themed: “Structural Engineering Excellence in an Environment Inundated with Collapse,” is scheduled to hold at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. The conference, he said, is to promote best practices in the development of safe buildings in the environment through qualified, experienced and competent practice of structural engineering.

    The conference, the President further noted, will offer participants the privilege of expanding their frontiers and improving their knowledge in the areas of development of safe buildings; the correct use of standard materials; structural engineering best practices; codes of practices-the interpretation and proper usage; structural engineering competence; enhancement and structural integrity and reliability of structures, among others.

    He then advised prospective developers to employ the services of only qualified, experienced and competent structural engineers at all times, irrespective of the size of their buildings.