The Nation Newspaper

Category: Building & Properties

  • Residents blame FCTA, developer for flooding, losses, others

    Some property owners in Efab Estate, Lokogoma District of Abuja, have blamed the officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for allegedly conniving with the developer of the estate to fraudulently sell houses to them.

    The estate recently came to limelight after a series of flooding led to the destruction of houses and valuables, including the death of a teenager.

    The devastation was so bad that some affected property owners resorted to squatting with relatives, others vacated the estate and insisted on compensation from the FCTA and the developer.

    The Nation learnt that the FCTA has asked residents of Lokogoma District whose buildings are along waterways to vacate the areas, saying the buildings were the cause of perennial flooding in the area.

    The administration said most of the buildings were built without approval and that the owners were allocated where to build on by the FCTA, but that they left the original allocations and built on waterways.

    In a twist, some of those affected by the flooding and those that may eventually lose their property to demolition by the development control department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), criticised the FCT authorities for doing nothing when the houses were being built by the developer.

    The victims said they were not comfortable with the plan by the FCTA to demolish the structures before compensating them.

    The Nation reports that in the Efab Estate, most of the houses near the major waterway get flooded whenever it rains. At least three major floods occurred between June 6, 26 and July 25, 2019, which led to  the destruction of property worth millions of naira and the death of a 17-year-old boy.

    The Nation observed a narrow stream within the estate that is not properly channeled and usually fills up whenever it rains thereby flooding houses along the waterway and environs.

    One of the affected residents, who did not want his name in print said he  moved into his apartment in the estate in 2010, but that in August, 2011, the first major flood occurred in the area.

    He said: “It flooded my house and fell the fence and did a lot of damage. Thank God, a friend who lived in my boys’ quarters travelled just a day earlier because the major debris fell directly on his bed in the early hours of the morning.”

    Since then, he said, the estate always witnessed flooding two to three times yearly. He recalled how the Residents Association entered into what he called a gentleman’s agreement with the promoter of  the estate, Chief Fabian Nwora, with part of the agreement stating  that they would  either relocate or compensate the residents even if it is partial,  after  advising him on the need  to  build a canal to check flooding in the expanse estate. He regretted that it wasn’t done, but what the promoters of the estate did was to only temporarily excavate  sand out of the stream for about two years. He maintained that the developer did not execute the agreement it reached with the residents’ association.

    He revealed that after the June 26 incident, the residents’ association met with the developer and the FCTA with   the FCTA saying the owners did not have approval for the buildings.

  • Arkland unveils A&A Towers in Eko Atlantic City

    Renowned property development company, Arkland Properties & Investment Company Limited and real estate firm, Amlad Group have announced the take-off of construction of A&A Tower, a 19-floor luxury apartments building at Ocean Front District, Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.

    This was disclosed at a media parley, Thursday at the Eko Atlantic Sales Office, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    According to Joseph Clarke, CEO of Amlad Group, who are owners of the property upon which the construction will be standing, the stunning piece of architecture designed by renowned Turkish architect, Atilla Ilhan, “will be the first fully-owned Nigerian structure in the new Eko Atlantic City, when it is completed in 30 months.”

    While expatiating on the luxury apartment, Clarke said “Future residents of the mixed-use development will be immersed in the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the state of the art furnishings throughout the building.

    Read also: U.S. acquires land at Eko Atlantic City

    “A&A Tower comprises dual-level penthouses, 2 bedroom & 3 bedroom apartments, high-quality office spaces, and well-designed retail spaces with mezzanine floors. All of this is available at favourable pricing in comparison to other properties in Eko Atlantic, as buyers also have the option to purchase via multiple flexible instalment payment plans.”

    While disclosing that the penthouses are already taken, Clarke said the two-bedroom and 3-bedroom apartments are still available at prices starting from N145m and N165m respectively, with prospective buyers able to make initial starting deposit of N10m.

    At the moment, he said the penthouses, which are duplexes are already taken, but prospective buyers still have the opportunity of buying two or more apartments and joining them, which he said is the advantage in buying ahead.

    Speaking on its pedigree, Clarke said Amlad has a 13-floor construction ongoing on Banana Island Road, residential apartments in Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos and another at Asokoro Extension, Abuja.

    He said the organisation has a reputation for being “well-grounded, not cutting corners and guarantees highest quality.”

    Jide Olumodimu, MD/CEO of Arkland Properties and Investment Co. Ltd, commenting on the project, said: “A&A Tower is our biggest and most exciting project yet! With 98 units in this building, we look forward to contributing positively to Nigeria’s current housing crisis by providing viable property solutions.”

  • Expert seeks priority for housing

    An expert in the built environment sector, Kola Akomolede, a surveyor, has said the country does not need a Works ministry. He regretted that housing has not been given the attention it needs because it has always been merged with other ministries, such as Works and Power, with attendant corruption.

    Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, Akomolede observed that, in the last four years, the ministry has been merged with two others. Housing suffered same fate in the last administration but for the commitment of ex-Minister Babatunde Fashola.  He said he could have done better  if he was allowed to handle the housing ministry alone.

    Akomolede said: “Anytime you merge the housing ministry with others, proper attention is not usually given to housing issues.  Before now, it was only President Shehu  Shagari who gave attention to the housing ministry, he went ahead to build  houses in the states of the federation, though people criticized the quality of the houses, it offered accommodation to the majority of the civil servants. He had food and shelter as his two-point agenda and that was commendable.

    “Against that in the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s seven-point agenda, there was no Ministry of Lands and Housing,  he didn’t think housing was important but there was Works ministry which, like in other administrations, was used to siphon money, where huge contracts were awarded for political patronage.

    ‘’As a professional, l would like to see a separate Ministry of Housing where attention would focus on houses solely without  a divided interest. My argument is that there should be nothing like Ministry of Works.

    ‘’The only work the Ministry of Works seems to be doing is mainly the construction of roads and the building of houses. We canvass that the ministry of houses should be allowed to build houses while the ministry of transportation construct roads and ministry of education construct their school.  If this is adhered to, there will be need to have a separate Ministry for Works with the exclusive right to construct roads, houses, schools and hospitals,” Akomolafe said.

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to separate housing from other ministries to make housing effective for the public.

    He noted that housing is the most important  factor after food. If not, why do politicians buy up houses everywhere but fail to come up with viable policies to provide  mass housing. There is this theory that the colonial master thought housing was not important to Africans, they  created  the Government Reserved Areas (GRAs) where they  accommodated their senior members of staff who were mostly white  with a boys quarter for the blacks serving them, added.

    On Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Akomolede advised the Federal and Lagos State governments to complete the road as it is the gateway to the nation’s economic potential. He wondered how much the nation would have lost by the neglect of the  road. He criticised the idea of a particular administration abandoning the projects of previous governments even when the project is in the best interest of the public.

  • Rainstorm victims: Ijebu North LGA gets relief materials

    The Ogun State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has distributed relief materials to rainstorm victims in Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment,  Mrs Yetunde Dina, while distributing the materials at the Local Government Secretariat, Ijebu Igbo, said the government’s swift response to the natural disaster was to ease the plight of the victims, which was in line with Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s drive of making the welfare of the people its utmost priority.

    Mrs. Dina, represented by the Director, Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Olufolarin Ige, said natural disasters were inevitable, assuring that the present administration would help the people overcome difficulties within its available resources, just as it would not relent in providing succour to those affected.

    Read Also: Ogun Govt sets up panel to review contracts awarded by Amosun

    She said a post-storm assessment was carried out by NEMA to ascertain the level of the damage done by the rainstorm before the distribution exercise, listing the items distributed to include roofing sheets, bathing soaps, blankets, cement, mats, nails and mosquito nets.

    The Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) in the area, Prince Oduneye Adesanya, appreciated both the state and Federal governments for showing concern to the people at the grassroots, adding that the items distributed were a pointer to government’s efforts at ameliorating the victims’ challenges.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Risikatu Okeowo and Mr. Folashade Oduyemi, commended the agencies for their continued support, saying the relief items would assist their families in the recovery process.

  • Dangote Cement promo triggers upsurge in cement demand

    The on-going Dangote Cement’s Bag of Goodies Promo, which promises to reward 21 million cement consumers nationwide has revved up demands for the product in the Southwest just as another star prize winner emerged in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    Attesting to the favourable response from cement consumers since the promo was launched, some retailers and distributors of Dangote Cement who, during the presentation of the saloon car to the winner, Mrs Chimezie Success Godwin in Ibadan, said the promo has led to an upsurge in the demand for Dangote Cement.

    The cement sellers said they were not surprised at the increased demands for the commodity because it is the first promo by a cement company to benefit over 20 million consumers.

    ‘’This is very unprecedented and this can only be done by Dangote Cement being the biggest of the cement companies. Imagining a cement promo with almost 50 cars, 550 refrigerators, 500 television sets, tricycles and motorcycles, who would not want to have any of these at this time in Nigeria,” said Mr. Olanipekun Onifade Kamoru, chairman of Onyx Global, a Dangote Cement distributor based in Oyo town.

    He stated that many cement consumers who won prizes in the promo never believed it because they are not used to cement promo.

    The Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Joseph Makoju who handed the car key to the winner, in company with Oyo State deputy governor, Raufu Olaniyan, said the promo is a unique way of appreciating the real consumers of Dangote cement all over the country.

    “As you can see, no lucky dip, no raffle draw, it’s a straight win through scratch card. Every bag of Dangote cement has a card in it. What you get is what you win. No magomago. Cement sale is like a war, the distributors are the generals while the retailers are the foot soldiers.

    “At Dangote Cement, we work hard to produce quality cement at affordable price so that we remain the best. Every time, we try to grow loyalty by rewarding our stakeholders, the last time it was the retailer, this time around it’s the consumers.”

    Makoju stated that no fewer than eight million bags of cement of high quality are released to the market daily and that robotic technology made such production easy.

    According to him, the company which is ranked among 10 top producers of cement in the world. He said: “On a daily basis, we dispatch about 40,000 tonnes of cement. Every ton is 20 bags. If you calculate, you will get eight million bags. So, we push out eight million bags of Dangote cement every day.

    “Dangote Cement Plc is a single product company. The only product we make is cement. We pride ourselves to be the leading producer, not only in Nigeria today, but in Africa. Actually, we have gone global.

    “Recently, the top 10 cement companies in the world formed an organisation called GCCA. I am very happy and proud to tell you that Dangote Cement was invited. We are one of the 10 top producers of cement in the world.

    “Dangote has put Nigeria on the global map. The name Dangote itself is a brand and everything that comes from him is of international quality.”

    In his comment, the Oyo State deputy Governor, who was represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Laide Raji, said there was no gain saying the fact that Dangote cement has revolutionised the cement industry and led the efforts to make the nation self- sufficient in cement production and consumption.

    He said:  ‘’The nostalgia and excitement here shows there is a bond and connect between the company and its customers. And I make bold to say that oyo state also identifies with Dangote Cement. It is a global brand.”

  • ‘Shun unregistered estate agents, developers’

    Lagos State Government has advised residents seeking for accommodation to engage only registered estate agents/developers.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr Wasiu Adedamola Akewusola, stated this at Alapere, Lagos.

    He spoke against the backdrop of what happened in Ketu where a fraudulent property developer collected money from over 262 prospective home buyers for only 15 units of studio rooms.

    Akewusola said: “Residents of Lagos State should desist from patronising quacks and criminals when scouting for accommodation and homes to buy.”

    He decried the rate at which illegal estate agents/developers swindle innocent people.

    “Lagos State Government is greatly concerned about the rise in the criminal and callous activities of some dubious estate agents who lure unwary individuals to purchase non-existent parcels of land or rent one flat out to hundreds of tenants,” he said.

    He declared that it is the responsibility of Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department (LASRETRAD), a directorate under the Ministry of Housing, to register and regulate activities of estate agents and developers.

    He advised intending tenants to ascertain that they transact business with only registered agents who can be recognised by the government estate agent registration banner.

    He seized the opportunity to ask the people to continue to have confidence in the government’s ability to fulfil the mandate of accessible, affordable qualitative housing.

    He said: “Lagos State is a responsible government and will not relent in its efforts of ensuring that the well-being of the people is upheld.”

    Also, the Director, LASRETRAD, Ajayi Adeyeye, described dubious estate agents as “not only criminal and illegal, but also an offence punishable under the Lagos State tenancy law of 2003 formerly known as Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises law (Vol.7 Law of Lagos State 2003.)”

    Adeyeye said the law that governs the rental of property is the basis of the legal contract that defines the relationship among the landlord, developer and tenant.

    He stressed that the government was poised to curb the excesses of swindlers, and quack estate agents through prosecution.

    He urged the public report any unscrupulous estate agent to LASRETRAD .

    He said a secured society could only be achieved if unscrupulous elements were restrained. He  appealed to the registered estate agents to imbibe the culture of trustworthiness.

  • Firm moves to resolve housing problem in Nigeria

    To reduce housing problem in Nigeria,  one of Nigeria’s real estate merchant has flagged housing scheme for low income earners in Nigeria.

    During a facility tour to Ibeju Lekki recently, Chief Executive Officer, GtextHomes, represented by the Business Development Manager, Gtext, Mr. Afolabi Olowoyo, noted the organisation is bent on providing affordable housing and land scheme for easy payment.

    He said: “At the moment Gtext already own five estates, we are starting our housing projects to at least build a thousand housing units for low income earners. We are currnetky developing Ibeju Lekki, Ikorodu and Abuja and before 2021 it should have been completed.

    “Basically the most important factor is funding. We started project 10 billion naira late last year to raise fund for housing project. We have had a lot of investors but we still want more investors to come invest. We want yo sell lands and build affordable houses to solve housing problem in Nigeria which is our vision. Presently we are running plan whereby when 50 per cent is paid, there will be immediate allocation of land”.

    Olowoyo further said the organisation has so far encourage investors who sees business opportunity in real estate business and also a Public Private Partnerships program to boost the real estate business.

    READ ALSO: Lagos to fulfill promises to housing sector

    “At the moment we are also focusing on Public Private Partnerships (PPP). We are doing joint ventures with other companies as well. We will definitely get there its just the matter of time.

    “We have properties for low income earners, which enable them pay by installment and we have a lot of people who have key into this scheme. What we are doing at the moment like I said is solving housing problems. We have a vision that by 2030 we should have about 30 estates. Which will balance the high, middle and low income areas” he said.

    The Customer Relation Manager , GtextHomes, Mrs. Gbemi Makinde, also said the organisation has also projected 5000 housing scheme across it five estate to reduce housing problem in Nigeria.

    “Imagine investing ten billion Ankara in the real estate business, it going to make a huge difference especially in targeting people of low incoming introducing to them a flexible payment plan. We are looking at a thousand housing project on each of our five estates across Nigeria, which projects our vision for five thousand housing projects for low income earners” she said.

  • Haven Homes delivers project as investors rake in 50% return

    EARLY investors who subscribed to Haven Homes project is smiling to the bank with 50 per cent gains realised from the original purchase price and the final selling price on the completion of the project.

    Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tayo Sonuga, who made this known in a statement, said discerning investors were able to tap quickly into their off plan investment window offered by the company. Off Plan purchases, he explained, is an arrangement whereby prospective home owners pay early to secure their stakes in the company’s upcoming project.

    “Because of our pedigree, a lot of our clients over time have reposed their trust in us and in our ability to deliver as promised. Even before we move to site to commence the new project, they pay upfront. As the values of the project and the houses still under construction appreciate and we raise prices following demand swells, their stakes in the project appreciate wildly in value.”

    A perfect illustration, Sonuga continued, is “where investors, who subscribed to our two-Bedroom at the initial price of N30million are now selling at N45 million even without paying the price in full”.

    “Some buyers only made an initial deposit of just N6million and have made a fantastic capital gain of N15million within record time. This speaks much for the immense appeal of our brand, which is made possible by the reputation we have built up over the years,” he said.

    Haven Homes recently completed and delivered Richmond Gate Estate Phase 2. The company is also known as the ‘celebrity developer,’ having helped complete beautiful homes for the likes of AY, Kizz Daniel, Tiwa Savage, Banky W and many more. It would be recalled that back in 2012, Tuface Idibia, Haven Homes’ brand ambassador also acquired two choice homes from the property company.

    Recently, ex-beauty queen and beauty entrepreneur, Dabota Lawson, acquired  a multi-million naira home with the help of luxury home developer, Haven Homes

    Haven Homes has since completed Richmond Gate Estate Phase 1, which is seen as the Beverly Hills of Africa by many, by virtue of the number of A- list celebrities, who have found the estate comfortable and safe enough to be its proud residents.

    Equally, VIPs, expatriates, executives of multi-nationals and other influential members of the society now live peacefully with their neighbours in Richmond Gate Estate’s serene atmosphere where electricity supply is available 24/7.

    With the completion of Richmond Gate Estate Phase 2 , where Dabota Lawson and other celebrities have already bought their homes, there is no doubt that this peaceful lifestyle has been extended further to many more.

  • Lagos to fulfill promises to housing sector

    The Lagos State government has renewed its vow to deliver on its promises in the housing sector, not withstanding setbacks by vandalisation of some ongoing housing projects in the state.

    A statement by the Public Affairs Director, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Adeola Salako, quoted the Permanent Secretary Akewusola, who during an inspection of ongoing housing schemes in Ibeshe, Igbogbo, Agbowa, OdoOnosa and Ayandelu, said the state was committed  to meeting the housing needs of the people.  He promised to forge ahead in delivering on the mandate in spite of setbacks, “especially the looting of some of the projects by miscreants”.

    He also called on community leaders and residents of adjourning properties to assist in securing government’s investment in some of the ongoing housing projects in the state, adding that the security of the housing schemes, constructed with taxpayers’ money, should be a joint venture between the people and the government.

    He stressed  that the  policing of these housing schemes is best done by the immediate communities because of proximity and superior knowledge of the terrain of the area.

    Akewusola decried the situation whereby uncompleted houses were vandalised, electricity transformers cannibalised and electric poles removed in some schemes.”

    Read Also: Lagos to fulfill promises to housing sector

    ‘’It is sad that some unscrupulous individuals would vandalise or loot projects initiated for public good,’’ he said.

    Akewusola further revealed that some criminals have embarked upon illegal sand mining activities in some ongoing projects around Ikorodu thereby endangering the land structure of the area.

    ‘’Extensive illegal sand digging activities are being perpetrated by some people in Igbogbo 2B Scheme thereby damaging the land,’’ he disclosed.

    He lamented the economic loss to be incurred from these untoward actions of the miscreants and the setbacks that would result from their activities.

    “The replacement of these items and restoration where applicable will definitely have huge financial implications and result in delaying the delivery of those homes to their prospective owners,’’ he said.

    He enjoined community leaders and residents to take interest in being vigilant over these schemes by offering information to security agents, pleading immediate report of any suspicious persons or unlawful incident to the police or any government security agents.

    The Permanent Secretary also confirmed government’s readiness to deliver on its mandate in providing high quality shelter for the people in spite of setbacks.

    ‘’The commitment of the state government in meeting the shelter demands of the people is unwavering, hence we are working out strategies to keep vandals and hoodlums out of the ongoing schemes. We will also step up our monitoring activities to ensure that nefarious activities are completely eradicated,” he said.

  • Nigeria’s urbanisation not commensurate with economic dividends’

    NIGERIAN cities are expected to reach 58.3 per cent growth in population by 2020, a report by the National Population Commission (NPC) has said.

    The growth is worrisome given that Nigeria’s urbanisation is demographically driven without commensurate socio-economic dividends.

    According to former Nigeria Institute of Town Planners President, Mr. Bunmi Ajayi, this has created urban health crisis of inadequate safe water supply, squalor and shanty settlements, sanitation, solid waste management, double burden of diseases and inefficient, congested and risky transport system.

    Ajayi, a former president, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), who spoke in an interview with The Nation, maintained that the hardship experienced in the country would be reduced if the government could successfully manage the fast urbanising cities.

    He regretted that the Federal Government has no plans for state capitals and some towns. He said: “Some states have outdated master plans for their capitals and some towns. Out of over 600 urban centres, I can confidently assert that 75 per cent of the urban centres in Nigeria have no physical development plan. States that got power did little or nothing just like the local governments in plan preparation.”

    Criticising various development control plans of government, he said they amounted to illegality as no state has physical development plans. Ajayi argued that governments at all strata are unfortunately after sources of internally generated revenue for their various states.

    He, however, criticised the public whom he accused of being complacent when there are provisions that involve the public both in planning and development control.

    He said: “Equally our government has not being made to perform their urban planning function well. The public does not take legal action because of the cost and the long delay. However, this though a valid excuse, should not deter us from claiming our right. In effect, you and me, who are members of the public and who are affected by planning decision, should arise and insist on proper and legal things to be done. We should no longer contain arbitrariness that has characterised planning decision.”

    He recalled that Britain created a green belt in London and new towns outside London with accompanying infrastructure such as fast train, which brings in people on a daily basis within 45 minutes. Ajayi regretted that there is no thought on having contagious use between cities or states in Nigeria.

    The former APBN president argued that though town planning is government controlled, it leaves the profession with little room as most of them are in government employment and probably afraid to question the status quo because of the security of their tenure.

    He stressed that the long years of military rule has been repressive to civil servants as they are fired for very flimsy reasons. And since the employment market is not big, everybody has unfortunately tried to keep their job by becoming their master’s voice.

    According to him, Nigeria has capable Town Planners, who unfortunately have been intimidated to being observers or at best a collaborators.

    On the way forward, he said: “Professional bodies and registration boards should be ready and available to rescue government Town planners, who are punished for upholding professional ethics and practice. The Town Planner working for the government is therefore, in a pitiable situation in which power lies where there is no knowledge.

    “As for private practice, practitioners of planning, the survival instinct has made many of them coward or collude to be in the good books of government. In effect, they collude with the illegality in as much as it butters their bread. It is unfortunate that with capable, experienced and well-travelled Town Planners, our cities are suffering all because power resides where there is no knowledge and consequent intimidation of the Town Planner.”

    According to him cities are largely ignored with no master plan to guide their growth, no current regulation, no mutually agreed planning standard and total lack of urban governance. He further stated that the task of having liveable cities is a task for all. He called on all to be united to participate in efficient governing of “our cities and ensure professional knowledge and integrity”.

    A university don, Prof Leke Oduaye, also lamented the level of town planning compliance by both the government and the public, noting that lack of planning and adherence to town planning regulations are the bane of the development of the country.