The Nation Newspaper

Category: Building & Properties

  • Sambo partners builders on nation building

    The Vice President Nnamadi Sambo has urged professionals in the building and construction industry to brace for more responsibilities to move the nation forward.

    He made the call at a business luncheon for Top 100 Nigeria’s Development professionals by Construction and Engineering Digest in Lagos.

    The Vice President, who was represented by the Minister For Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakeny, said no nation can rise beyond the level of the competence of its enlightened citizenry and knowledgeable workforce, of which the professionals in the industry are a critical part.

    She noted that in a rapidly changing world where yesterday’s innovations have suddenly been found to be inadequate for meeting today’s needs, the professionals must brace up for higher responsibilities to move the nation forward.

    Acknowledging the role of professionals in nation building, she said: “We duly acknowledge the experts and professionals in the built environment as the key for achieving the necessary transformation which we urgently desire in the housing and urban development sector,” adding that the hallmark of professionalism is, however, not in the acquisition of certificates for self- aggrandisement, but in the application of core skills and competence to resolve the challenges of the society.

    Mrs Eyakeny added that the administration was aware that the reduction of the national housing deficit and transformation of towns and cities into productive, healthy human settlements, and engine of growth are compelling.

    “The infrastructural deficit will be addressed holistically and systematically through the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP), which seeks to integrate all sectoral plans into cohesive whole for sustained and affirmative actions,” she said.

    Chief Executive Officer, KOA Consultant Limited, Ibikunle Ogunbayo, called for the overhauling of the 500 technical colleges in the country to tackle the housing deficit estimated at about 17 million units.

    He added that the building of such volume of houses would depend on the availability of experts, who are equipped to provide best practices for housing development across the country.

  • Experts harp on affordable housing

    How Nigeria can achieve affordable housing and better urban planning topped discussions at the presentation of a book titled: Affordable Housing and Urban Planning Practice in Nigeria: Advocacy for Change.

    The book, which was launched at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), was written by Mr Yacoob Abiodun, a town planner and retired Deputy Director (Urban Planning), Federal Ministry of Housing.

    The reviewer, a former president, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Mr Kadiri Waheed, described the book as the author’s product of passion for town planning and urban development.

    He said the book was a collection of 58 articles published over three decades by Abiodun as an officer in the Housing and Land ministry, adding that it was borne out of the author’s conviction that there was need for concerted effort by leaders and followers to make the nation clean, healthier, functional and investment-friendly.

    He said: “That the issue of housing made up the first and largest section of the book is not a surprise because housing is of importance to individual, groups and government. It has become a major societal issue and political concern in Nigeria with its questionable stance over the years.”

    He said the section on urban planning and management must have been based on the author’s conviction that the planning process must steadfastly and consistently serve the overall public interest and must be participatory by recognising the rights of the citizens to take collective decision during the planning process.

    The chairman of the occasion and former Director of Lands, Urban and Regional Planning in the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Wole Okunfulure, under whom the author worked for over two decades, described Abiodun as an unseen actor, who continue to offer good suggestions and practical answers on how the government could fulfill its obligation to the masses in provision of affordable housing using gamut of strategies.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, praised the author for writing the book, saying despite efforts by the previous governments, the nation was still lagging behind in the provision of affordable housing for the citizens.

    Is there a solution to the challenges of town planning and urban management? Abiodun said the challenges could be solved if the government could comply with and implement documented policies formulated by the Land Ministry, which were contained in the book, and make them endure.

  • Boom in Lekki-Epe property market

    Investors in property and real estate are flocking the Lekki-Epe corridor in anticipation of the opportunities from that area when the $9 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant and other mega projects take off. The rush has triggered a sharp rise in the value of property on that axis, reports Assistant Editor Chikodi Okereocha

    The Lekki-Epe corridor of Lagos has become irresistible to property and real estate investors.

    Attracted by the upcoming $9 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant, the West Africa gas pipeline in Ibeju-Lekki, the deep seaport, and the East-West road, which passes through Lekki, among others, local and foreign investors are literarily falling over themselves to invest in the area.

    The Nation learnt that since the Dangote Group awarded the project management consultancy, engineering and construction management for the 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) crude oil and 600,000 tonnes polypropylene plant, Lekki has become a beehive of construction.

    Apart from the refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), a large portion of land in the area has been earmarked for the construction of an international airport. Also, the Lagos State Government, as part of the urban renewal programme of the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, has intensified its aggressive infrastructure development aimed at transforming Lagos into a mega city.

    For instance, the state government, and the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), constructed and expanded the Lekki–Epe Expressway, introduced the computerised tollgate, and also developed new alternative routes that made driving to and from Lekki less cumbersome. The Lekki link bridge between Lekki phase I and Ikoyi has also been opened, while the state government has proposed the construction of a fourth mainland bridge to link Lekki to Ikorodu.

    Essentially, the partnership between the state government and LCC intensified construction in the Lekki Peninsula and also culminated into a 30-year concession programme, which is gradually transforming the area into a highly modernised and functional living and working environment. Encouraged by these, LCC Chief Executive Officer, Opuiyo Oforiokuma, boasted that Lekki would be a world-class arena, both in terms of influx of businesses as well as in residential properties.

    The area alone boasts of over 50 estates, gated residential developments, and commercial complexes. Experts even say the number would double in the next few years as a result of on-going developments on the corridor. For investors, the opportunities expected to open up in the area when these projects come on stream are too tempting to be ignored.

    Already, property analysts and experts say the area looks good to play a major role as the new investment hub for real estate investors as Lagos gradually evolves to a mega city, a development, which perhaps, accounts for the sharp rise in the value of property in that axis.

    The Managing Partner, Adrant Partners, a Lagos-based firm of real estate and property consultancy, Mr. Ranti Adedeji, confirmed that because of the influx of local and foreign investors to the area, the value of property has skyrocketed. He said, for instance, that rent for a three-bedroom flat in Lekki Phase 1 has increased from N2.5 million to N6.5 million per year, while a duplex rose from N20 million to between N60 million and N75 million. Those willing to rent same apartment will have to part with between N8 million and N10 million per annum.

    Adedeji added that a block of flats now go for between N60 million and N75 million outright sale, whereas to rent same property, a prospective client will have to pay between N3.5 million and N4.5 million per year. The real estate expert said apart from residential apartments, offices of banks, insurance companies, big corporate organisations as well as automobile dealers, eateries, and shopping plazas dot the Lekki-Epe landscape.

    He said with the fast-paced developments in the area, more shopping plazas and commercial properties would soon spring up in the area.

    A property consultant, Gbenga Owoeye, attributed the upsurge in property development in the area to non-availability of land in Ikoyi and Victoria Island. This, he said, encouraged many prospective homeowners to look towards the Lekki–Epe area in the hope of taking advantage of the numerous business opportunities that would come on the back of the siting of the refinery and other major infrastructure projects there.

    He said investors in real estate are erecting fantastic structures comparable to those in Europe and other advanced countries. Lekki Phase I, Agungi, Chevron Drive, Lekki Peninsula Phase I, Wood Green Estate, Stillwaters Garden Estate and many more are replete with such exotic structures. For instance, Wood Green Estate located behind Chevron Drive boasts solar power as a reliable and eco-friendly alternative to the erratic electricity supply in the state. The estate also boasts Olympic size swimming pool, 24 hour closed circuit camera (CCTV) surveillance, maximum security and a state-of-the-art recreational park, among other facilities.

    The Ikota Villa, another estate within the area is also a mix of grandeur and style. The walls of the properties in the estate are screened, that is, sanded and polished to allow a smooth and straight finish, creating a sharper appearance and textured finish; while the ceilings are Plaster of Paris, PoP coated, providing a smooth finish and a white effect. In addition to this, the toilets and kitchens are of the highest standard with equipment imported from Britain.

    However, as attractive as this axis has suddenly become to investors, only the super-rich can afford the high cost, which experts say is because of the swampy nature of the area. Property developers spend huge resources on pilling and raft foundation before proper construction begins, a situation that forces them to transfer the cost to property buyers. But this has not discouraged investors most of who are hopeful of bountiful returns on investment.

  • ‘How to gain from Housing Fund’

    ‘How to gain from Housing Fund’

    A property and investment firm, Xeus Realties Limited, has advised Nigerians to take advantage of the National Housing Fund (NHF) to become house owners.

    Its Managing Director, Mr Emiola Odulate, said at the weekend during the allocation of 50 plots to subscribers at the Lighthouse Estate, in Igbesa, Agbara, Ogun State that many Nigerians were either yet to key into the scheme, or were not aware of how to benefit from it. This, he said, made his firm to develop a scheme – the Builders Support Finance (BSF) – aimed at making the common man become decent home owner without stress.

    The BSF, he explained, is a platform for individuals to set aside an amount monthly towards getting a house; that is, after acquiring a land. He said the size and time of housing investments, which require large amounts of long-time finance, makes the BSF initiative apt.

    “We have discovered that most civil servants are qualified for NHF, but they are skeptical about government things. So, what we do is to help individuals access the funds such that what you access can be translated into the house – not the house of your dream, but the house that can comfortably cater for you. The minimum that can be accessed is N5 million. If we are building in bulk, we know we can achieve a decent three-bedroom flat for N4.5 million. Also, we have a scheme for the upper class too,” he added.

    To achieve this, the firm is partnering some primary mortgage institutions (PMIs), under the NHF scheme, construction firms and suppliers of building materials. The company helps prospective applicants package documents and pass it through the PMIs who will send to the NHF for processing and when the money is released, Xeus moves in to help build the house within the amount given by the NHF.

    Odulate, who said in most of the estates the practice is to sell land, revealed that through his firm assists people who are unable to get facility from the NHF so that a land buyer in the estate can build his house in bits.

    This is done after the beneficiary’s ability to repay is assessed, usually based on the disposable income, while repayment is made monthly at a single digit interest rate as mortgage on the house, thereby preventing inflation on the cost of building a house where the owner builds little by little.

    Many of the land owners who got their allocation were workers of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, including the Assistant Director of Finance, Egekenze Chime. He expressed satisfaction with the process, saying that he hoped to capitalise on the NHF Loan Scheme.

    Head of Administration of the firm Christian Eboma urged the government to build houses for the common man because poor people cannot afford the houses the government is building.

    “There is no plan for the low and middle income earner; so ours is more of a vision passionately driven to cater for people. We are ready to partner with any organisation that shares our vision,” he said.

    The 60-acre Lighthouse Estate is close to the Ogun/Chinese Free Trade Zone. It is designed and developed for the low and medium income earners, who will own real estate over some time at their pace through Xeus Realties’creative builder support programme.

     

  • Akpabio initiates 28km road

    Akpabio initiates 28km road

    A 28-kilometre Road to link Ikot Ikara-Ikot Ibritam has beenkicked off by Governor Godswill Akpabio in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    The governor, who started the road construction during his visit to the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, expressed disappointment with the state of roads in the two local government areas, attributing it to neglects by successive governments.

    He harped on the importance of the road, announcing that the Utu Nsehe part of the road was to be awarded to Setraco Construction Company.

    The governor, who inaugurated the Abak-Obio Akpa-Nsehe Road with three bridges, and later opened the Nsehe-Ikot Akpa Nkuk axis of the Road. He promised to do more to open up the area and boost more economic activities.

    Reacting to the development, the stakeholders from the area expressed deep appreciation to Akpabio for reconnecting them with the other part of the state. The member representing Oruk Anam State Constituency and Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan thanked the governor for making Ukanafun a priority in his administration. He said the people where happy that apart from completing the major road with four bridges to link Ukanafun/Oruk Anam with Abak, the Governor has embarked on the Ikot Ikara – Ikot Ibritam Road that will link the new road with the East Way Road and make movement to Port Harcourt and Aba easier for the people.

  • Commission promises safer water delivery

    The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC) has inaugurated multi-channel contacts for the public.

    The channels, which include six toll-free lines, website, consumer complaints box and corporate locational signages, would provide unfettered access to the commission by the public, said Executive Secretary Mrs. Tanwa Koya.

    The commission, she said, has a duty to ensure that any water provider in the state is protected; protect the interests of consumers on the price they pay, the quality of water they receive, and access to water supply.

    This, she added, also include proper delivery of wastewater services whether by pipe/sewer network or by seepage trucks, provide an avenue to the public to make their complaints.

    LSWRC Chairman Mr. Taiwo Sebiola said the commission would ensure that an enabling environment is put in place for a viable and sustainable water supply and waste water management sector.

    This, according to him, will be realised as the commission is mandated to ensure that water supply production and distribution is done in a safe and efficient manner, that consumers do not pay more than they need for water, that water quality meets the state standard, which he reckons is even higher than that set by the Federal Government.

    He said it was the commission’s duty to ensure that residents of the Lagos have access to potable water, adding that consumers must have their complaints properly addressed and get value for money paid for water services.

  • ‘Buyers beware’

    A caveat emptor has been placed on land in Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, according to the Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

    Muri-Okunola spoke in his office, urging the public to be wary of individuals, families, traditional rulers and communities who sell government acquired land in the area.

    He said the land covering 455.76 hectares in Ayobo was acquired by the state government, by virtue of its Official Gazette No 15 Volume 34 of May 5, 2001, adding that it was named Ayobo Residential Scheme.

    Muri-Okunola said prospective buyers should verify any land before buying.

    He advised the public to obtain a Land Information Certificate from the Office of the Surveyor-General, ascertain the status of the land and ensure proper validation of the titles on such lands from the Lagos State Land Registry.

    “The unsuspecting members of the public are, therefore, enjoined to take caution by verifying the status of any landed property, else they may purchase litigation, which venture may end up as colossal waste of hard earned financial resources,” he said.

    He added that the activities of illegal fraudsters is on the rise in the area, warning that thepublic should be wary of them.

  • Infrastructure: A panacea for sustainable growth

    Infrastructure: A panacea for sustainable growth

    Experts at a workshop organised by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) identified the role of infrastructure in emerging economies of Africa as the fulcrum for national development and sustainable growth. Assistant Editor MUYIWA LUCAS takes a look at the outcome.

    Infrastructural develo-pment in any country is the fulcrum for its economic advancement.

    So, when the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) chose to deliberate on the theme: Towards sustained growth of emerging economies in Africa – The Infrastructural imperatives at its workshop in Osogbo, Osun State capital, many agreed that it was apt.

    With sub-themes, such as “Efficient project management of infrastructure in emerging economies of Africa;” “Effective cost management of infrastructure development as a sine-qua-non for growth in emerging economies,” and the “Sources and alternatives of Financing Infrastructure in emerging economies,” the tone was set for the deliberations that have charted a new course, not only for practitioners, but for the country in view of its quest to be among the 20 leading economies in the world soon.

    Principal Partner, Cost Concepts Management & Associates, Tunde Adesiyan, in his paper on “Efficient project management of infrastructure in emerging economies,” stressed the need for efficient project management of infrastructure which he said had become imperative given its importance of physical development and economic growth of a nation.

    “The amount of financial and human resources committed to these projects have made them important for consideration of economies of scale to determine where and when to embark on these projects,” Adesiyan said.

    For him, apart from the basic principles of project management, which revolve around initiating, planning, implementing, controlling and closing, there is the need to further understand the culture of the people to wards the success of project management of infrastructure. He said project management of infrastructure should continue three to five years into the life of the infrastructure before other levels of management take over.

    Vice President (West), African Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS) and Managing Partner, CONSOL Associates, a firm of International Construction & Development Consultants, Obafemi Onashile, charged quantity surveyors to devise strategies to continually position themselves for maximum efficiency in infrastructural development and economic growth. This, he believes, will enable professionals to maximise their fortunes.

    From the various presentations, it was clear that economic growth in emerging economies of Africa, including Nigeria, is being hampered by poor infrastructure, such as lack of adequate power supply, inadequate and poor state of transport networks, telecommunication deficits, inadequate water supply and waste disposal problems, short-fall in health and education facilities.

    Besides, the speakers were emphatic that for any African nation striving to belong to the top 20 nations by 2020, efficient cost management culture must be imbibed as a national policy, while effective and efficient management of infrastructural projects should be given prominence and high priority by governments, organisations and individuals.

    They further admonished that there should be massive investment to address the challenges and short-falls, noting that because cost is essential, the services of quantity surveyors have become inevitable and imperative in all aspects of infrastructure projects, including budgeting, financing and management in order to get value for money invested.

    The workshop also noted that governments alone cannot bear the financial burden of providing adequate infrastructure considering the huge capital out-lay required. Consequently, integration of private sector investors into the conception, planning, design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure is imperative in Africa to accelerate infrastructure provision to the citizenry, meaning that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) procurement models must be encouraged and sustained.

    It was also canvassed that there should be an establishment of African Infrastructure Development Bank (AIDB) or African Construction Development Bank (ACDB) as a new infrastructure funding framework similar to existing models in China, India and Malaysia. This, it is believed, will provide the much-needed long-term finance at low interest rate to contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. The bank is expected to be private-sector driven to minimise bureaucracy while government provides “seed money”.

    To serve as motivation for practitioners, especially quantity surveyors, a systematic review of professional fees charged by these group was also recommended, in the hope that such gesture would galvanise them to play the much-desired roles in efficient and effective delivery of infrastructure projects. Importantly, the forum canvassed for a collaboration among professional bodies, the professionals and even client organisations involved in infrastructure development to enable them eradicate fraudulent practices and eliminating areas of disagreement in the documentation and cost management of infrastructural projects.

    The appointment of quantity surveyors in the departments of finance, budget and or planning of ministries was recommended to ensure probity and accountability of public funds invested in infrastructure as such surveyors would help to carry out the audit of projects. To ensure timely payment to contractors necessary to prevent abandonment of infrastructural projects, enactment of a law to institutionalise Payment Bond was also canvassed.

    For surveyors to play their role, they have been charged to acquire and exercise competency of cost control and exhibit due diligence in the cost management of the nation’s vast infrastructure. This is taking the centre stage of infrastructure development and to take advantage of the emerging opportunities. Besides, surveyors, it was submitted, should be willing to break the jinx of conservatism and embrace the fluidity of best practice and innovation, while the NIQS should also tap into the gains of international best practices as done by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

    There should also be a collaboration between quantity surveyors in the Diaspora and the NIQS to tap into the advantage of working across cultures to build local competences.

    That is not all, a quantity surveyors academy was also recommended.

  • Artisans, Lagos partner on water management

    The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Land, and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has praised West African Ceramics Limited on its production of high quality ceramic and vitrified tiles to meet the needs of the construction industry.

    He spoke at the Building Construction and Mining Mart expo in Lagos, during a tour of the firm’s stand. He expressed satisfaction with the company’s production of tiles of international standards and quality. West African Ceramics is the manufacturer of Royal Ceramics and VIT Porcelain tiles.

    The firm’s Marketing Representative for Southwest Operations, Tosin Elatoroti,who conducted Ashafa round the stand, said the production of vitrified tiles was a demonstration of the firm’s commitment to serving the building industry, particularly in floor, wall, and roofing tiles.

    He explained the production process to the lawmaker. “Unlike the production process of ceramic tiles, vitrified tile is made by baking fine minerals like various clay at extreme high temperature where the individual grains or particles melt and fuse to make a glass-like surface, thus creating a mass making them extremely hard with low porosity, and resistant to stain,” he said, adding that the firm is preparing towards production of digital tiles which is the next phase in tile production in Nigeria.

    Hinging on the theme of the expo: Construction stand: Knowing the equipment for the job, Elatoroti further said the firm provides advice and assistance to builders and architects at their showrooms in Lagos, Abuja and Suleja.

  • Ogun verifies homeowners’ claims

    The Ogun State HomeOwners Charter has continued to elicit responses from the people. It has moved to the verifying of documents stage.

    Director of Land Ratification in the state Bureau of Lands and Survey Mr Fatai Adeboyejo advised applicants who were yet to submit their forms to do so and attach the necessary documents to enable the assessors work without stress.

    Speaking when he led a team of assessors to Ado-Odo, Ota, Akute, Agbado and Alagbole-Ifo local government areas in continuation of the verification, he said the government meant well with the programme to enable them to obtain necessary documents at a huge discount. He added that beneficiaries should not frustrate the programme, as the team discovered a lot of discrepancies and incorrect information in the forms.

    “The government’s gesture to help home owners regularise papers of their properties is, no doubt, a laudable move, but this cannot be achieved when people fail to supply us the necessary information, phone numbers and correct home addresses among others; all these are needed to carry out our responsibilities and help them get their documents at the end of the day,” he said.

    He enjoined applicants, who were contacted earlier through either phone calls or text messages, to be available when the assessors come to check their documents.