The Nation Newspaper

Category: Building & Properties

  • Once upon a Festac Town

    Once upon a Festac Town

    When it was built 36 years ago, Festac Town, Lagos was dubbed “Little London” because of its state-of-the-art infrastructure. The once beautiful town is now a shadow of itself, with the collapse of virtually all its infrastructure. Stakeholders have met on how to restore the town’s glory, reports OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE.

    Festac Town was well-planned. At the height of its glory, it was where many preferred to live. Initial house and land owners got them through a ballot system with a proviso forbidding them from renting and disposing of the properties to third parties. But all that has changed. The town is now disorganised and uncoordinated.

    The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has asked residents to pay ground rent to pave way for a comprehensive urban renewal. They are also to stop from changing the character of the estate. The Lagos State Government also insists on residents paying the Land Use Act, but the latter maintained that they will only pay when they see evidence of infrastructural development and urban renewal.

     

    FHA’s position

     

    FHA Managing Director Terver Gemade said the residents have departed from the authorities original design and concept. He said: ”Housing units were allocated to winners/tenants on mortgage repayment basis spanning a period of 25 years, now eight years after the expiration of the mortgage tenure, some of the residents are still unable to pay up in spite of the foreclosure clauses (which have been difficult to enforce due to constant litigations).’’ He accused the tenants of contraventions in town planning rules, abuse of use of facilities and wanton conversion of residential properties to commercial purposes.

    Gemade also observed that premises were overcrowded with a large percentage of alterations and attachments. He decried the unhygienic premises of most of the flats, disused containers, illegal workshops and use of open spaces. He insisted that except residents comply with the terms of the lease and pay statutory fees, the path to achieving the old glory may not be easy.

    On what they have been able to do at the resident, he said following the take–over of the Ishasi Water works by the Lagos State Government via a court judgment, the authority established a mini-water works on 22 Road. The authority for so many years paid huge sums of money to the Lagos Water Corporation to augment supply of water from the mini-water works.

    Gemade said, however, that the project could not continue because of the indifference of the residents to pay services. He said the authority is partnering Messrs Kopila Water Technology. He regretted that most residents were reluctant to tap into the project.

    The FHA boss said some roads have been rehabilitated and some infrastructural services in the town had been upgraded.

     

    Residents’stand

     

    President of the residents association, Comrade Jola Ogunlusi, said they are resisting the imposed Land Use Charge from Lagos State Government and Ground Rent from FHA because of the lack of infrastructure in the estate. Furthermore, he maintained that they have not received demand notice from FHA to pay the controversial ground rent, which he said, was fixed without the consent of the residents. He said the residents are prepared to negotiate the terms with the Lagos State Government. He accused FHA of disregarding their complaints of contraventions and conversion of open spaces to shops and other illegal abodes by some residents because of their complicity.

    Ogunlusi said they have written to FHA about the selling of the buffer zone to some highly placed people to the resident’s detriment without any positive response.

    He said over 20 roads are in poor condition, making life difficult for residents. He commended the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Chairman, Mr Ayodele Adewale, for rehabilitating some of the roads. He lamented that other government agencies are more interested in taxes.

    On their demands, Ogunlusi asked for a connection road and bridge between the estate and Abule Ado, stressing that 60 per cent of revenue made from the town should be ploughed into the development of the estate.

     

    Fed Govt’s stance

     

    Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple, criticised the residents for failing to live up to their civic responsibilities by not paying their ground rents and land use charge. She criticised them for dragging the government to court instead of paying their statutory dues. Pepple insisted that except they pay their taxes, the urban renewal and regeneration plan of the government may not succeed. The minister frowned at the accusations the residents levied against FHA of complicity in selling buffer zones and illegal allocations and asked for proof to help the government investigate it.

     

    Lagos State’s perspective

     

    Special Assistant to Governor Babatunde Fashola, Mr Bola Shodipo, criticised residents for not paying their taxes and expecting development. He warned that if they continue to be recalcitrant in the issue of paying tax, development may continue to elude them as the government cannot use taxes paid in other estates to develop them.

    Earlier, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Toyin Ayinde, asked the FHA to resubmit the master plan of the estate to establish what it was before and now. He warned that flagrant disregard to town planning laws of the estate would attract severe sanctions.

     

    Amuwo- Odofin LG

     

    Mr Adewale asked the various agencies of the government to look into the infrastructure needs of the residents such as good road, water provision, sewage plants and provision of street lights. He asked for efficient management of the buffer zone to protect it.

    He decried the insecurity in the estate and asked the government to do something urgently about it. He also listed his achievements in road construction, the environment and other areas and asked that other strata of the government should complement the efforts of the local government.

  • Lagos okays 1,427 development permits

    •To relocate Mile 12 Market

    The Lagos State Government has approved over 1,427 development permits out of 1,840 applications it received.

    This is a significant improvement in the time frame for the evaluation of Physical Planning technical reports and the granting of development permits.

    The state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Toyin Ayinde, said in his office that there have been improvement in the time frame for granting development permits, representing 87 per cent unlike what happened in the past.

    He said the new time frame is an average of about four months unlike before when people wait endlessly before they got their approvals.

    On stemming building collapse, he said the ministry would extend its services soon, especially the monitoring of the removal of illegal structures and arrest of developers and their workers at sites beyond the regular working hours.

    He said: “Beyond this, the ministry has put measures in place to curb the incidents of building collapse in the state by compulsory integrity test of buildings and construction materials in conjunction with the State Materials Testing Agency, identification and removal of distressed buildings, removal of illegal and non-conforming buildings. Others are inspections and certification of various stages of building construction and the evaluation of on-going and completed projects.”

    He raised the alarm over the high rate of abandoned building projects in the state and its security implications at the last count, adding that the figure rose to about 417, which he said, was unacceptable. The commissioner, however, said government’s efforts were yielding results as 15 developers were returned on site at the Oniru Estate in Victoria Island.

    He warned that the government would penalise defaulters to check the ugly trend to preserve lives and properties.

    Ayinde also disclosed the preparedness of the government to transfer the regional food stuff commodities market in Mile 12 to Parafa Ikorodu.

    On the reason behind the transfer, the commissioner said it was conceived as a result of the incessant problem generated by Mile 12 Market operators and the need to relocate the market to a new spacious environment, that is well-planned for maximum efficiency.

  • Court dismisses suit on Austen-Peters’ Estate

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere, Lagos State has dismissed a suit filed by a firm, Orbital Computer Services Limited, challenging the award of N13million per annum for eight years by an Arbitral Tribunal to the estate of Brig-Gen. Austen-Peters.

    Justice M.O. Obadina held that the suit lacked merit.

    The claimant went to court seeking an order setting aside the January 30, 2009 final arbitral award made by an arbitrator, Ikechukwu Ofalalwenofu.

    Ofalalwenofu awarded N13 million per annum for eight years (N104 million) against Orbital as rent proceeds from the lessee.

    The firm, which claimed that there was no dispute between it and the defendants on a property at 180, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, alleged that the arbitrator misconducted himself by assuming jurisdiction in the matter at the defendant’s instance.

    Orbital claimed that there was no dispute at the time the arbitrator assumed jurisdiction as both parties were still negotiating the rent.

    The firm also argued that the arbitrator misconstrued the lease agreement and did not take into cognisance the facts of the matter. It alleged that the arbitrator erred in law when he relied on the defendant’s amended statement of claim back-dated to November 26, 2008, as well as the rental valuation report dated January 12, 2009, to support their claims.

    The claimant further alleged that the arbitrator exceeded his powers by going outside the scope of reference in awarding total rent for the 13th to 20th year to be paid in advance, which is not provided in the lease agreement and neither was such claims made by the defendants.

    Administrators of the estate, Victoria Olufemi Austen-Peters; Oludoyin Austen-Peters and Fabola Austen-Peters, who were sued on behalf of the estate, opposed the reliefs sought by the claimant.

    In a six-paragraph amended counter-affidavit, the defendants submitted three issues for determination.

    They referred the court to paragraph three of the lease agreement, which said should any dispute arise at the end of the 12th year of the lease, or at anytime, as to the rent payable for the 13th to 20th year, the parties should refer the matter to an arbitrator appointed by the President, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, and the cost shall be borne by both parties.

    The defendants had through a letter dated October 2, 2008, which was the end of the 12th year of the lease, informed Orbital that the rental value of the property was N10 million per annum based on prevailing rate payable by similar establishments on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.

    They stated that the claimant, in a letter dated October 20, 2008, had made a counter offer of N5million per annum, which the defendants rejected through another letter dated October 24, 2008.

    The defendants averred that they applied to the President, NIESV, on October 30, to appoint an arbitrator to preside over the rent dispute, after which the claimant wrote another letter, dated November 5, 2008, still challenging the N10 million.

    The defendants said the arbitrator notified the claimant of his appointment and the modalities for arbitration, while the defendants also gave a notice of the appointment of an arbitrator to the claimant.

    Instead of submitting to arbitration, the claimant wrote another letter to the defendants offering N7 million and notified the defendants that the cost of arbitration will be borne by the defendants alone.

    This position was turned down by the Austen-Peters, who told the claimant that both parties can no longer renegotiate the rent, since the matter has commenced before an arbitrator and that the matter can only be withdrawn if the claimant will make a formal acceptance of N10 million.

    Eventually, the claimant agreed to pay the N10 million per annum and forwarded a cheque for the 13th year to the defendants, which was turned down by the defendants who insisted that parties must abide by the arbitral award.

    The defendants subsequently amended its claim to N13 million per annum.

    Obadina, who said the claimant’s letter of November 5, 2008, established that there was a dispute, held that there was a valid arbitration agreement in the lease agreement and the matter submitted to the tribunal was within the agreement,.

    She held that there was no challenge to the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal; hence, the tribunal had the power to conduct the hearing and to make the award notwithstanding the default of the claimant to participate in the proceedings.

    Obadina, who read the final arbitral award in court, held that the arbitrator did not state that the total N104million was payable at once or upfront as alleged by the claimant.

    “As for the allegations that clause three of the lease agreement, which is the arbitration agreement was breached in that the award is based on the further amended statement of claim of the defendant wherein N13 million was claimed as the rental value and not the valuation of the arbitrator, this is incorrect.

    “A look at the award and arbitral proceedings frontloaded by the claimant shows that the arbitrator functioned as an expert in determining the market rental value. His valuation starts from page 14 of his report. He compared properties at 52 and 45 Awolowo Road before arriving at his professional conclusion that N13 million per annum is the conservative open market rental value of the property.

    “Finally, there is no evidence that the award was improperly procured by the defendants. Due process was followed from inception to conclusion of the proceedings. No ground exist to warrant the setting aside of this final award. This originating summons is without merit. It is dismissed,” Obadina said.

  • Quantity surveyors seek reduction in project costs

    President of the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) Mallam Husaini Dikko has sought the assistance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to partner to reduce project costs in the country.

    Dikko said for the nation to achieve its Vision 20:2020, the building and construction industry needs to contribute to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    He spoke at the Third Building and Construction Economic Round Table in Abuja.

    Dikko said: “We require the anti-graft agencies to continually collaborate with the QSRBN. Syntheses and analyses of building and construction projects cost are highly technical and the expertise may not be domiciled in the aforementioned anti-graft agencies.

    “This partnering relationship will produce the synergy necessary to deal a mortal blow to corruption in this sector.”

    He added that this group’s focus on transparency and accountability was critical to the realisation of the potentials of the building and construction sector.

    According to him, the sector will be relevant to set agenda for the nation’s economic development.

    However, he said, there was the need to set standards for project cost as well as templates to determine the cost bands across the geo-political zones of the country.

    This move, to him, would bring sanity into cost of building and construction projects in the nation.

  • Preserving Jakande’s housing legacy

    Preserving Jakande’s housing legacy

    The Jakande Estates in various parts of Lagos brought succour to many families when they were built in the early 80s. But their neglect over the years has brought disasters following the collapse of some of the buildings in which scores were killed. This has compelled the government to take proactive steps to stop further disasters, Seyi Odewale and Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie report.

    When in the early 1980s the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, initiated the low cost housing scheme for middle class and low income earners, what was on his mind, perhaps, was to reposition the almost submerged middle class, which had difficulties coping with the biting pangs of accommodation in the ever-growing Lagos population.

    The initiative saved many families from relocating from Lagos and afforded them the opportunity of becoming landlords. Flats were got through lucky dips and lotteries and paid for at relatively low prices with the highest then going for N3,000.

    The initiative earned Alhaji Jakande as the foremost housing provider for Nigerians from the different parts of the country in the state. The prototype of the low-cost housing was replicated in different parts of the state, such as Oke-Afa, Isolo, Adeniji Adele, Abesan, Iyana-Ipaja,Iponri, Lekki, Ketu-Alapere, Amuwo-Odofin and other places had one form of the scheme or the other. Every part of the state benefitted.

    However, almost three decades after these landmark achievements, the buildings in their various locations have become death traps. Cases of building collapse resulting in deaths are commonly reported.

    Oke-Afa Estate in Isolo is a case in point. Several years of neglect and lack of maintenance have left the buildings virtually unsafe leading to fatalities recorded last November. Two sisters lost their lives when their residence collapsed throwing their mother into mourning.

    This prompted the state government to conduct structural integrity tests on other buildings within the estate. Fifty of such buildings failed the tests. At the stakeholders’meeting which held at the Lagos State Security Command last year at the instance of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu,said the forum was aimed at finding modalities on the demolition of the affected buildings to avert disaster, or any possible collapse of buildings in the estate and look for ways of settling people who were likely to be affected by the demolition.

    In attendance were representatives of the Lagos State Building Investment Corporation (LBIC); Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA); Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA); Lagos State Raw Materials Testing Agency; Office of the Public Defender (OPD), LASEMA, Jakande Estate Association; officials of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) where the estate is located; Ministries of Housing, Environment, among others.

    Oke-Osanyintolu said the fact that the buildings failed integrity tests was enough ground to demolish them to avert any disaster. “They are no longer fit for habitation and rehabilitation,” he said.

    The series of structural tests conducted on the buildings, the residents were told, exposed them for demolition. But he lamented the attitude of some residents.

    “This is the kind of disaster we have always tried to avoid, but unfortunately, some residents are not just co-operating with the state government at the expense of their safety. The results of the series of structural tests we conducted on the collapsed buildings showed that the structures were weak and not fit for habitation.We had repeatedly warned the occupants of the dangers and asked them to leave, but unfortunately, they ignored these warnings,” he said.

    He said the buildings were being demolished in phases and their owners compensated. Recently, 15 landlords whose buildings were pulled down among those slated for demolition were compensated with N3million, with each collecting N200,000.

    Oke-Osanyintolu told The Nation that they were compensated to enable them to secure accommodation elsewhere pending the reconstruction of their buildings.

    He explained that government’s motive was to avert disasters that could have come from the marked buildings that failed the structural integrity tests. “Our main focus is to preserve lives and property, and we will do everything to make sure that we are equal to the task.

    “When we noticed that there were some defects in some structures, we pulled them down and rebuild. The same thing we are going to do for those affected at Jakande Estate, Oke-Afa. They were given some money to secure accommodation elsewhere. We also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the owners of the structures. They complied and with that we were able to achieve what we planned to do.”

    Asked what kind of MoU the government had with them and if the owners would be able to have their buildings back, Oke-Osanyintolu said: “When you are looking at those kind of structures we have primary and secondary victims. The landlords are the owners of the buildings. We will not give the buildings to those who are not the owners. Immediately the reconstructions are completed the owners will get back their buildings.”

    But at what cost he was asked? “At no cost. And if there is going to be any cost at all, everyone will see the need for it. If you do something and everybody appreciates it, you will not need to cajole or persuade them to pay at all. They themselves would see the need to pay, if at all that is necessary. However, when we get to that bridge we will know how to cross it,” he said.

    He said the government has been having some commendations from the residents and landlords of the affected estate. “We have been having a lot of commendations on what we have been doing there. You can see that the affected landlords of that estate and their associations have commended us for taking proactive steps in preventing building collapse, which would have caused some fatalities and loss of properties,” he said.

    Showing a copy of the letter dated April 26 and signed by Alhaji Abdul-Kareem Taiwo and Prince M.O. Oyemade, who are both President and Secretary of Landlords /Residents Association (LARESA), Low Cost Housing Estate, Oke-Afa, Isolo, addressed to LASEMA’s General Manager, Oke-Osanyaintolu said the residents appreciated what the government has been able to do, especially in compensating those affected by the demolition.

    The letter reads in part: “The President, Executive members, beneficiaries and the entire residents of our great estate hereby express our gratitude to you and all government agencies involved in taking care of our predicaments since the collapse of Block M20 on the fateful day of November 20, 2012.

    “Our sincere appreciation goes to His Excellency, the Lagios State Governor, Mr BabatundeRajiFashola (SAN), for his sympathetic response towards the victims. We believe and hope that other victims will soon have their own relief assistance and the Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) relating to this sad incidence shall be actualised.”

    Taiwo said on the telephone that those who have got the N200,000 relief assistance vacated their buildings while those yet to be given are still waiting.

    Asked if the association keeps track of those who had left, he said they moved to different parts of the state pending the completion of their buildings by the government.

    The LASEMA boss, however, took exception to the term demolition often used to describe the proactive measures of his agency in mitigating building collapse. “I don’t like that word demolition. It makes one sound destructive. Our job is not about demolition, we are for saving lives and property because we know that lives have no duplicates. We do everything to save lives and we use different methods to achieve different goals,” he said.

    He continued: “People use demolition in another form – negatively, which we don’t want to be associated with. We want to be associated with reconstruction, rehabilitation, remolding and saving of lives and property than demolishing people’s property. And this government, as you are aware, is a democratically elected government. It is a government of the people. How can you allow your people to suffer?”

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Mr ToyinAyinde revealed that most of the buildings in the Jakande Estates are distressed and may collapse at short notice.

    He said of most concern to the state government is the fragrant violation of town planning rules by most residents, especially at Oke-Afa, Isolo who add floors to already weak structures.

    Ayinde revealed that The Building Control Agency, the organ responsible for such, is gradually taking the inventory of the Jakande estates to ascertain their state and how to approach the defects. The commissioner said the Babatunde Fashola administration is rebuilding the Ogba Housing Estate, regretting that some areas meant to be built with raft foundation or pilling were neglected leading to incessant collapse and failures.

    He added that the government was studying Jakande Estate at the one at Adeniji Adele in order to rebuild it.

  • Ogun landlords, tenants get compensation

    Ogun landlords, tenants get compensation

    Landlords, tenants and shop owners in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, whose properties fall within the right of way of the proposed shopping malls and residential buildings have been paid relocation allowances by the government ahead of the demolition of their properties.

    Speaking while monitoring payment of the allowance, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, recalled that the state pledged to build ultra-modern shopping malls in place of some markets and houses and resettle residents affected.

    He said ultra-modern shopping malls will be built at three commercial centres of Omida, Itoku and Isale Igbein.

    He added that the relocation allowance was a palliative measure to enable those affected to find a temporary place to live or carry out their commercial activities pending the completion of the shopping malls and houses.

    “Let me make it clear that what we are paying now is not compensation, but just a palliative to enable those whose properties are to be affected by our plans to build new shopping malls and find a temporary abode. We are going to bring them back as soon as the projects are completed,” Adegbite said.

    The commissioner assured the affected shop owners and landlords that they would be considered and given shops and houses respectively when the projects were ready. He affirmed that enough shops and houses would go round them and others would be built to accommodate all.

    He enjoined the beneficiaries to spend the money wisely and make alternative accommodation arrangements in the interim and not to spend it on frivolities that could make nonsense of government’s gesture.

    Mrs. Deborah Olubunmi, a landlord at Isale Igbein and Mrs. Modinat Shonekan, a shop owner at Omida market, who benefitted lauded the state government for the gesture, saying that it would cushion effect of the proposed demolition and ease their movement to a temporary site.

    They urged the state government to fulfill its promises of giving them priority when the shops and houses are completed.

  • Lagos, World Bank upgrade slums

    The Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project (LMDGP) is to build infrastructure in Ijeshatedo/Itire and Mushin to elevate those areas.

    LMDGP is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) World Bank-assisted project, put in place by the Lagos State Government in 2008 to upgrade 10 blighted communities (slums).

    These areas were selected following a 1995 comprehensive study of living conditions in identified slum communities in Lagos State. The areas targeted for intervention by LMDGP are the worst and largest among the identified slum areas. It covers an estimated 760 hectares. Usually, the upgrading of subprojects are done in response to the expressed demand of the beneficiary communities.

    When The Nation visited Ijeshatedo/Itire, it was discovered that over 30 roads had either been re-built, rehabilitated or had drains constructed to check the perennial flooding of the area. The agency also undertook total renovation and construction of 68 classrooms, including external works, gardening, tiles, roofing and installation of new windows.

    In Mushin, the Chairman, Oduselu Community Development Association, Otunba Femi Okuyemi,commendedthe agency for providing 19 boreholes that provides an average of 7,000 litres daily.

    He said potable water was provided to the communities under his care because of the challenges the residents had suffered for years, adding that before now, the most common disease in the area was water-borne disease.

    Another community leader in Osifowokan area of Mushin, Alhaja Mariam Idowu-Gbenle, said she is also in charge of some boreholes provided by LMDGP and commended it for assisting the residents to overcome water challenges.

    The Chairman Technical Committee, Itire/Ijesha, Mr Abdul Rasheed Gimba, said 25 roads are under construction by contractors engaged by LMDGP. He listed the roads to include Aroromi, Igu, Gbadamosi and Omanuah.

    Mushin Local Government Chairman, Mr Olatunde Babatunde Adepitan, praised the slum upgrade projects of LMDGP in his local government. He confirmed that the World Bank agency has intervened successfully in slum upgrade in his local community through infrastructure upgrade in areas of road construction and water provision.

    Adepitan said: “Thirty roads have been built in the local government in conformity with international standards. He said the intervention has brought a lot of relief to his people who are mainly traders. He said they need to move easily from one point to the other and also check flooding.

    He said he has built over 35 roads in the local government maintained by road managers employed by the local government.

    However, he asked the government to assist the local government in the provision of street lights to protect the provided infrastructure from vandals.

  • Fed Govt pledges N10b to Great Green Wall project

    •NCF seeks ‘proper implementation ‘

    The Federal Government has pledged N10billion for the implementation of the Great Green Wall Project.

    Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has praised the government for its gesture.

    The Minister of the Environment, Hajiya Hadiza  Mailafia, said  at the National Conference on Environment in Makurdi, Benue State that the government had made a N10 billion commitment towards the implementation of the United Nations-backed programme.

    Great Green Wall brings together 11 countries to plant trees across Africa to hold back the Sahara Desert with a swathe of greenery to lessen the effects of desertification and improve the lives of communities.

    In Nigeria, the project aims to address desertification, enhance natural resource management and promote ecosystem integrity in the dryland in the  northern parts of the country.The Nigerian Project stretches from Zamfara and Kebbi states in the Northwest corner to a belt along the northern border of the country to the extreme eastern border in Borno State. Eight sstates are involved in the project.

    While praising the government for its commitment to the initiative, the Acting Executive Director, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Alade Adeleke, called  for a framework  that considers the expected benefits and elements which the project would capture.

    Adeleke said it should have effective follow up and action, based on the principles and actions highlighted in the strategic plan.

    The project, he stressed, should be seen as an opportunity to boost natural resource productivity and reduce stress and tension in natural resource use among major stakeholders.

    Adeleke, however, insisted that a conflict mitigation and management strategy should be put in place by participating states to guide against actions that can punctuate or slow down the process of implementation.

    He said: “The project should be seen as a solution rather than a problem for communities, states and people of the benefiting areas. Science and adaptive field research should be inculcated into the implementation plan of the project. This should be fashioned out in collaboration with key Universities and Research Institutions in the project implementation areas.”

    The Wall, an initiative spearheaded by African Heads of State, will stretch to about 7,000 kilometres from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east and will be about 15 kilometres wide traversing the continent. It will pass through Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

    The programme aims to support efforts of local communities in the sustainable management and use of forests – a key theme of the 10th session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF10), taking place in Istanbul, Turkey as well as other natural resources in dry lands.

    The tree planting, among other things, is expected to provide a barrier against desert winds and help to hold moisture in the air and soil to allow agriculture flourish.

    It is also expected that the Wall will reduce erosion, enhance biodiversity and improve countries’ resilience to climate change.

  • Bridge housing gap, don tells firm

    WEMABOD Estates, a subsidiary of Odua Group,has built a N360 million estate at Akinola Cole Crescent in Ikeja, Lagos.

    At the unveiling of  the estate called Golden Court, the firm said it is the smallest ever built by it built, adding that it was constructed within eight months. It is built on 1,200 square metres of land with 12 units of three-bedroom luxury flats at N30 million per flat.

    WEMABOD Estates Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Olumide Ologun, said the facilities at the medium sized estate include Jaccuzi in the baths, a dedicated borehole, 24-hour security and a stand by generator. He said the estate built by Sivbuild Limited is built to standard specification of the Odua Investment subsidiary.

    To mark the 50th anniversary of the conglomerate, the Guest Speaker, a University of Ibadan teacher, Prof Babatunde Agbola who spoke on the Provision of housing in Nigeria: The challenge for WEMABOD Estates, challenged the group to spread its net outside Lagos to member states. He said if the firm did that with appropriate pricing technique, the recovery of its  cost would be assured.

    He said the ability to recover the costs expended on such projects will make it possible for the  organisation  to finance other activities in the future and enable the replicability of such projects in states otherwise considered as non-viable.

    According to the don, what is apparent from the profiling of the housing sector is that the demand for housing in the country is significant and growing at a fast pace.

    He said: “The supply gap for low and middle income groups is very high, reaching a crisis level in some cities in the country, which is exacerbated by the rapid urbanisation of the population. The problem of housing will become even more acute, as has been predicted by the World Bank, resulting in a housing crisis by 2020 if adequate ameliorative measures are not taken.”

    Agbola said Nigeria, with an estimated population of 160 million, requires at least an additional 720,000 housing units per annum (based on an estimate of 9 dwelling units a year per 1,000 of population), not only to replenish decaying housing stock, but also to meet rising demand and avert a housing crisis by 2020.

    Successive efforts to meet this target, he said, had failed as housing deficit stands at over 17 million units in Nigeria.

    Former  Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo hailed the subsidiary for expanding its operations in member states and helping to solve the estates is discussing with member states to build 5,000 housing units in each state.

    Chairman of Odua Mr.  Sarafaden Alli said the group is building the biggest mall in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Akure, Ondo State, among others.

  • Minister: surveying, mapping will promote national growth

    Surveying and mapping if “well utilised”will promote national development, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen has said.

    Speaking at the 27th Working Week of the International Federation of Surveyor in Abuja, the minister said: “No leader in Nigeria can afford to lose interest in the activities and importance of surveying and mapping in national development. It has not only been recognised as an indispensable factor in achieving the goals and objectives of government’s policies, but has in recent times been involved in effectively and responsibly driving the realisation of the targets of our transformation agenda through Vision 20:2020, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other good government programmes.

    “I have come to admit that surveying is indeed the bedrock of national physical development. My government expects to derive benefits from its role in natural resource exploration, exploitation, management and conservation.”

    Onolememen said the theme of the event: Environment for sustainability, aptly highlights the need to address the effects of environmental disasters in the country, such as climate change, desert encroachment, flooding, gulley erosion, water pollution and food insecurity.