Real estate received a boost in Lekki/Ajah, Lagos, last week when 38,000 square metres mixed-use development dubbed PurpleLekki was unveiled. It encompasses 157-unit of mixed-use development that blends high-quality residential, retail, entertainment, hospitality and co-working spaces. OKWY IROEGBU­ CHIKEZIE reports that the holding company, Purple Real Estate Income Limited (PREIL), also signed an agreement with Genesis Cinemas, Market Square and Ventures Park to be the anchor tenants and partners at PurpleLekki, a mixed-use centre.

Real estate developers are delving into mixed-use development to offer prospective clients an opportunity to work, live and recreate in the same place.

One firm that has embraced mixed-use development is the PurpleGroup. Its new baby PurpleLekki, unveiled last week, is a luxury home in the upscale Lekki  and provides exquisite shopping for urbane Lagosians.

Its Chief Executive Officer Mr. Olayide Agboola, noted the group was rebranding. According to him, in line with the rebranding,  the company’s facilities will have Purple as a prefix – Purple.

The rebranding took effect this month with PurpleLekki and PurpleMaryland. He said the process would be implemented on the company’s physical and digital platforms.

Agboola said in addition to modern private offices, department stores and boutiques, PurpleLekki would include a dedicated tech and data centre to support business tenants and enable collaboration among tech-empowered communities that require state-of-the-art working infrastructure – making Lekki an even more attractive place to live and work.

The Nation learnt that the new construction is being financed by the Bank of Industry (BoI) and guarantees from Keystone Bank. The financing model forms part of an ongoing programme to build strategic alliances with domestic and international development partners to construct and deliver premium assets in prime locations.

Located on Freedom Way, in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, the development will feature a selection of new restaurants and concept bars, among other means of entertainment or relaxation, as part of the firm’s experiential offering, Purple Play.

He said the 38,000 square metres PurpleLekki would encompass 157-unit mixed-use development that blends high-quality residential, retail, entertainment, hospitality and co-working spaces.

He reaffirmed Purple’s mission and ambition to scale up investment and accelerate growth in the real estate sector.

According to him, the firm is refocusing and extending its brand beyond real estate development.

“We see the need to curate affordable lifestyle experiences by leveraging our expertise in real estate development. With MarylandMall, now PurpleMaryland and our ongoing development PurpleLekki, we are integrating retail, arts, entertainment, media and advertisement, family fun, food and drinks, e-commerce and financial services all in one through superior mixed-use centres and services. Our new focus is clear; working with our range and network of partners, we are creating affordable lifestyle experiences for our consumers across all income levels.”

The CEO further said the group’s facilities and development were also rebranded and would be addressed with the Purple prefix (PurpleMaryland, PurpleLekki) while its new services would also bear a touch of the Purple Identity as well.

He, however, added that to keep in touch with the group’s brand heritage, they had kept the same colours and logo symbol.

Agboola stated that the new Purple identity signified growing strength, resilience and elegance, which he noted accurately represents the significant growth and successes it has recorded over the past few years. He said: “Ours is a story of sheer resilience, best practices and excellent service delivery to our partners and clients across the group. With this brand repositioning, we are re-committing to our core beliefs and ensuring unwavering commitment to our values, to our investors and to our esteemed partners. Our refreshed brand clearly communicates these values. We are also excited to unveil the brand identities for our new services and ongoing development projects.

“The development also includes Citadines, a new serviced apartment offering for occupiers, where a commitment to customer service ordinarily experienced within a high-end hotel setting will be brought to the comfort of occupiers living at home,” he stated.

He said the unique living experience would be delivered in partnership with The Ascott Limited, one of the world’s leading owners and operators of serviced residences.

Also, Chief Executive Officer, Market Square, Ebele Enunwa, said: “The company has fast become a household name and the go-to grocery retail store for Nigerians in need of products they can trust at a valued price.

“However, the Market Square story could not have been written without our partnership with Purple.

“Signing this tenancy agreement to house our second outlet in Lagos signals the success of our first in PurpleMaryland and the next step of a progressive partnership that enables us to continue to meet Nigeria’s everyday needs.”

Chairman, Ventures Park, Kola Aina, said: “We are a nation where entrepreneurship abounds, but talent cannot pursue its goals or achieve its objectives, compete nor win big without an environment that harnesses home-grown potential.

“As such, we are delighted to leverage the PurpleLekki property development as we upgrade and scale our offering across the country and beyond to support the success of a new wave of startups, technopreneurs, and innovators that bring about the world of tomorrow today.”

Also, Chairman, Genesis Cinemas, Nnaeto Orazulike, said the company remained committed to building world-class multi-use facilities in partnership with Purple.

The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has begun rehabilitating roads in Sango-Ota and its environs to prevent road accidents.

The Sango-Ota Area Commander of TRACE, Mr. Adekunle Ajibade, stated this at the weekend

Ajibade said fixing the failed portions of roads was part of the social responsibility of the corps to save lives and property.

“There is an urgent need to fill some of the potholes in Sango-Ota and its environs because government alone cannot do it all.

“Also, the agency needs to render this community service as part of its social responsibility and to check traffic gridlock in the area,” he stated.

Ajibade listed some of the roads to in which potholes had been filled include llo -Awela Roundabout, Ikola Road, and Ojuore, all in Sango-Ota.

The area commander said the potholes had caused some accidents that claimed lives and injured many people.

According to the official, hoodlums also rob motorists and other road users at the failed portions of the roads at night.

Ajibade, while urging motorists to be mindful of the potholes, advised them against speeding and driving against traffic, to prevent road mishap.

The area commander stated that the Corps would continue to embark on enlightenment at motor parks in the area, on the dangers of not obeying traffic rules and regulations.

Oando Foundation has partnered the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to clean up Mushin, Lagos,

As part of the exercise held in Papa Ajao, the organisations educated the community and pupils of Olisa Primary School on the importance of cleanliness and turning waste to wealth.

NCF Lead Environmentalist Mrs. Abidemi Balogun said the exercise by NCF and Oando was to create awareness where communities are encouraged to keep their environments clean and healthy.

She said: “Regardless, we will be the one to take the consequences of our action. If we don’t take care of our environment, we will suffer for it. Together we will achieve a healthier environment and be healthier for it.”

She said the collaboration would also clean Ilasa Paja, Orile and other communities.

On why they chose Olisa Community, she said they preferred established schools which they could adopt within the community to easily induct the children in waste- to-wealth programmes.

The NCF chief said the activity was a follow-up by the Foundation of the schools they had adopted.

Head Teacher, Methodist Secondary School, Mrs. Omolola Balewu, thanked the Oando Foundation for the initiative, saying the pupils learnt so much from the programme.

Citing her school, she acknowledged a great improvement of the pupils who are keeping their environment and themselves clean.

Mrs. Balewu said when you keep the environment clean, you keep away germs and would not contact diseases caused by dirty environment.

She urged other NGOs to take a cue from Oando Foundation and reach out to other schools to impact the children.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Chairman, Olisa Primary School, Alhaji Mufutau Adesina, said the Olisa communities were cleaning the environment daily. He said pupils had been positively impacted and were applying what they learnt to improve their environment.

He said: “The mechanics doing their business around the school are not encouraging our efforts at keeping the environment clean. On our own, we have asked them to desist from throwing their waste into the drains and to always clean the gutter around them.”

Eighteen years after the National Building Code (NBC) was signed by former Housing Minister Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, there is no enabling law to operate it. The need to domesticate the code to save the sector was the focus of a workshop by the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) in Lagos. Its theme was: “Sensitisation on the Domestication of the National Building Code (NBC) in Lagos State and Integration of Building Energy Efficiency Code (BEEC) for professionals in the building sector”. OKWY IROEGBU­-CHIKEZIE reports.

The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, with the support of the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has held a workshop for stakeholders in the built environment.

The forum, held under the auspices of the Nigerian Energy Suppport Programme (NESP) in Lagos last week, provided an avenue for stakeholders to deliberate on the approach towards the Domestication of the National Building Code (NBC) and the integration of the Building Energy Efficiency Code and green building principles to the Code.

Commissioner, Lagos State  Ministry  of  Physical  Planning  and  Urban  Development, Dr. Idris Salako, said the domestication of the NBC and its launch as Lagos State Building Code would deliver another national milestone from state government.

He added: “The Code will ensure that buildings are more resilient to disasters  such  as  floods,  fire outbreak and collapse, by  specifying requirements  for  structural  stability, durability and energy efficiency.”

Chairman, Nigeria Institution of Architects( NIA ), Lagos Chapter, David Majekodunmi, who x­rayed the Code, stated that it was sad that 18 years after it was signed by then Housing Minister Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the enabling law to operate it had not been passed. He said NBC was designed to protect people from fire, windstorm and ensure structural integrity and energy efficiency. According to him,  in Britain, building codes are reviewed every two years to incorporate new technologies in the sector, regretting that in Nigeria, the 38-year-old building Code has not been passed into a law.

He said: “Sadly, we have inadequate framework for monitoring standards in building construction while those already constructed are collapsing.The Building Code is divided into four parts of pre­design, design, construction and post-construction. The government and her agencies should also not be over bearing but serve contravention or stop work notice when necessary. Professionals should also note that a badly built house is a death trap and should avoid the trap of using substandard and inferior building materials. This is in addition to avoiding poorly designed buildings and changing the use of a particular building without proper clearance form relevant government agency.”

On the Operational Plan for NBC domestication in Lagos, a former President of the Nigeria Institution of Structural Engineers (NIstructee), Kunle Adebajo, regretted that the absence of a legal NBC in Nigeria had made him to use European and British standards. He said in advanced economies such as Britain, codes are used from researches and recent happenings in the environment as against what obtains in Nigeria where after 18 years, it was yet to be passed into law.

Adebajo, who is the managing director of Ove Arup & Partners, a firm of Engineering Consultants, said: “We need to have something that relates to us from code of practice on problematic soil with enough data on how to manage different soil conditions from the soil that swells. We shouldn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel or copy and paste something that is not relevant to us in the code.”

Adebajo said those that needed to internalise the Building Code in the construction value chain, includeed iron benders, bricklayers, and carpenters.

He canvassed a guide for artisans, adding that they made up about 80 per cent of construction workers. He likened his proposal to a manual in the United Kingdom known as “ Man on the Job”, used by block and sandcrete moulders that teaches them how to mix concrete in a manner the artisans would understand.

Adebayo canvassed a steering committee to synergise and come up with what the nation building industry needed, not copied from others as we had been doing.

A retired Professor of Architecture, Niyi Okedele, said when the NBC was put together in 2006, governors were signatory to it but regretted that it was neither passed into law nor domesticated by any government.

He blamed some professionals in the built environment for not keeping to the tenets of the code on where their core competences start and end. He called on them to discard the professional cold war in the sector and form a common ground, update their expertise and ensure that the NBC has local content by domesticating it and getting those in the lower cadre of the construction to find a place in the code.

Chairman, Nistructee, Dr. Isaac Akiije, said human behaviour was vital while giving consideration to the sensitisation an domestication of  the NBC.

“The control of the use of the building materials during construction should be strictly by law and should be left in the care of the structural engineer because of his competence. The client can buy materials nobody is doubting this but the use must be sensitised and be domesticated for use on site by the structural engineer,” Akijie, an Associate Professor of Engineering, University of Lagos (UNILAG), added.

Head of Department, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNILAG, Prof. Ikponmwosa Efe Eween, argued that most of the problems in the sector stemmed from some regulators involved in shady deals while testing building materials. He cautioned that the practice would not augur well for the sector.

According to him, the practice would lead to compromise and should be discouraged.

Special Advisor to the Governor on e-GIS Dr. Olajide Babatunde said: “Lagos as a front runner in the country is taking the bold step to regularise its building standards which, in addition  to  protecting its  people and property, would  lower  construction  costs  and  drive  economic development.”

Permanent Secretary,  Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development,  Mrs. Abiola Kosegbe, an engineer, urged the participants to leverage the expertise gained from previous trainings, to  incorporate  energy efficiency and  green building principles in the design and construction of buildings to achieve energy savings.

If implemented, Lagos State would become the first state to domesticate the National Building Code, while also adopting the BEEC and other sustainable building measures to support the goal of transforming Lagos into a sustainable, smart city.

Commending NESP, she said they also provided technical, advisory and capacity development to private developers and building professionals on improved energy-efficient building design and construction.

In a statement reiterating NESP’s commitment towards the code’s adoption, the Head of Programme, NESP, Mr. Duke  Benjamin, said:  “NESP is committed to supporting Lagos  State to  implement its code domestication plan and would provide technical assistance throughout the process.”

Lagosians leave the city centre to the suburbs and the Lekki/Ajah axis,which has become the toast of the rich. On that axis, a new addition, Silver Pacific Homes, has joined the list of top-notch homes. It has opened Felicity Resort and Residence to provide unique recreational facility where over-worked or stressed members of the public would take time out to holiday, relax, retreat and recharge. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports

In the quest to sustain its leadership position in the recreational sector, Silver Pacific Homes has upped its game by opening Felicity Resort and Residence.

Within three years, Silver Pacific Homes has developed 14 exclusive residential estates. Its Managing Director, Samuel Ikoje, said he understood the near-crisis experience of many people and decided to provide a unique recreational facility where over-worked or stressed holidaymakers can relax, retreat and recharge with family and friends.

He said: “Felicity was borne out of the need to create a unique environment for people to have a good vacation and well-deserved rest. In a city like Lagos everybody is worked; because there is hustling and bustling. People tend to break down because they don’t have that proper rest. Even when they are at home, they don’t have that proper rest.

“Some people, who can afford it just travel to a secluded area, may be out of the country, to relax and recharge. Felicity is now providing that environment for people to unwind. Right from the exterior, the lush gardens, the lakesides and the trees all around welcomes you to the invigorating ambience of Felicity Resort and Residence.”

The N200 million resort comprises nine clusters. The first set of clusters comprise nine hamlets and each of the clusters has a lake. “If you are living in a cluster, you may not necessarily go to another cluster to experience a lake view. Every building has a lake view in every cluster. There are 18 buildings in one of the villages, with another having just 15 buildings. It isn’t at all crowded; and you know your neighbours. Each enclave is made up of one-bedroom and two-bedroom bungalows that are planted on an 80 square metre space. If you want a bigger room you can go for the one-room; but if you are looking for more rooms, there is the two-bedroom unit, too. But the space area remains the same – 80 square meters,” Ikoje said.

“Then, there is another cluster called Laksa. It comprises maisonettes and duplexes. A maisonette could be a living room, a room, toilet, dining and kitchen downstairs and one room upstairs. It could also be a two-bedroom apartment with full decking. But the buildings are of the same size. We have the cluster called Royal, that is real top notch. It can be a two-bedroom or three-bedroom; however, you want it. The Royal is very limited, for those who have a family. It’s indeed very different from any other building in the entire development. We have other clusters like the Cedar, Faire View, and The Orchid. All the buildings are a place you can come to relax, away from home or your country home or village home. They are furnished luxuriously. When you come in there, you feel the ambience, even from the exterior, the lush gardens, the lakesides and the trees all around just calm your nerves.”

On the unique features of the hospitality resort, he said it included serene environment with lots of greenery, top-notch, all-round security and tranquility.

“These are things that we embedded into Felicity Resort from its making; because we need to provide such an environment that is serene, tranquil and also safe for people to relax, and enjoy their vacation,” he stated.

He said the resort was fast turning out to be residential as some initial visitors to the resort preferred to remain. He said they were replicating residences in the resort to accommodate, especially  first-time home owners and millennias  to afford them the opportunity to build a healthy life style and family.

Ikoje added: “For those who already have a home but want to buy into the scheme, as their vacation home, this is also a very good opportunity. They are the people we are primarily targeting. And if you have not been to Felicity Resort, you may never have experienced an ideal place where nature speaks to you and calms your nerves.”

Giving a glimpse into the aesthetic features of the resort, Ikoje said: “We have borrowed a leaf from a lot of places around the world. We found out that a lot of people like to go to Seychelles, Maldives, and Dubai because those places parade lots of aquatic splendour. So, we decided to build all of that into Felicity Resort; for instance, 45 per cent  of the resort is covered by artificial lakes.

“Also, every building in Felicity Resort comes with a swimming pool. It is by default; the homes come with a well-manicured garden and a solar power plant. The environment we have created here is an eco-friendly a place where people will be free from all pollution and carbon monoxide emissions. We have natural hills covered by lush vegetation which is also not in any way disturbed or distorted. It’s a place where one can just walk up, relax and behold the view entire view of Felicity Resort. There is cable car to convey people up the hill; by choice, people can just climb up the hill if they wish to exercise themselves,’’ he added.

On the location of Felicity Resort, he responded that it is located at Odo Agboju, just after Epe Toll Gate, on Epe/Ijebu-Ode Road. “We have chosen that place to give you a hamlet ambience that is devoid of the hustle and bustle of town.

“The location boasts of a very unique topography. It has hills, flatlands and some form of natural ponds where you can fish. As the saying goes, fishing is a therapy. All of these features make Felicity Resort very unique, he enthused.”

The Felicity Resort boss said the aquatic splendour is indeed one of the things that excites the taste bud of visitors to the resort.

On the lakes in the resort he responded that there are massive artificial lakes criss-crossing the entire length and breadth of the Resort.

 ”The lakes are created artificially, not deep lakes; but shallow so that a two- or three-year-old kid can play in, and not drown. We are careful about that because the place is hilly and some portions are flat. If you are to dig to get water you are going to dig deeper. Hence, we decided that creating artificial lakes is the best option; more or less like massive big swimming pool that are not deep at all”.

On those who may need a deeper pool,  he said the Resort have one in each compound. According to him the lakes and the pools are just divided by walking lawns. You can get out of your pool and walk into one of the artificial lakes because each of the clusters has its own he added.

The Lagos State Government is engaging the public to domesticate the National Building Code.

At a  forum,  the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, stated that the move was aimed at producing the Lagos State Building Code and supplying the links in the regulatory framework by providing standards for buildings in the state as opposed to design standards.

He said: “As a performance-based building code, the Lagos State Building Code covers aspects such as structural stability, durability, protection from fire, access, moisture control, energy control and services and facilities.”

He said the code would complement the building 4x system in the state to address the challenges of land use, physical development and urban planning.

Salako added that the code would provide the opportunity to address the peculiarities of the state. It would also address the localities with standard while minimising costs of disasters from flooding, building collapse and fire outbreaks, among others.

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He said the domestication of the National Building Code and its launch as the Lagos State Building Code in the future would present another model from the state

Noting the importance of information sharing, he urged reporters to support the government  by creating awareness for the code and the process leading to its domestication.

The Special Adviser, E-GIS, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, said the domestication of the National Building Code would give adequate consideration to the peculiarities of the state.

Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Abiola Kosegbe, said the state government embarked on the initiative, involving stakeholders’ engagements and contributions, with the support of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme(NESP).

She explained that the Building Code would incorporate the Energy Efficiency Code and the Green Building Concept.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has n amed Mr. Adeniyi Nehemiah Aromolaran the Executive Director, Enterprise Services, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, (LSDPC).

Aromolaran is a Fellow and Council Member, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), a certified IFC/LPI sustainable and performance development facilitator/trainer.

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He is an advocate and champion of national/public sector reforms, private sector self-leadership and people empowerment.

Aromolaran, a Finance and Banking graduate of the University of Lagos, has over 30 years’experience.

He founded Nehemiah Resources Limited, an MSME consulting firm, to provide enterprise developmental support for start-ups across Africa.