The Nation Newspaper

Category: Building & Properties

  • Chevron: our environmental policies are impeccable

    Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum (NNPC) and CNL, said it remained an active agent of sustainable development and strong advocate of partnerships in support of the environment for over 50 years.

    Its Chairman/Managing Director, Jeff Ewing, while explaining the firm’s role in safeguarding the environment, noted that CNL is happy to be part of the solution to  global environmental issues, not only in Nigeria, but wherever the oil major operates.

    This, he further revealed, is being attained through CNL’s sound environmental management policy, which supports environmental stewardship and sustainable development. According to Ewing, CNL has in place a company-wide, operationally excellent management systems, which deliver industry-leading performance in process safety, personal safety and health, environment, reliability and efficiency.

    “CNL has a record of responsible environmental stewardship everywhere it operates and has also established enduring partnerships with governments, non–governmental organisations, business organisations and communities. CNL has been supporting and sponsoring various programmes aimed at preserving the environment. These partnerships and efforts have been recognised and rewarded within and outside the country,” he said.

    Ewing further explained that the CNL’s environmental stewardship process laid the foundation for sound environmental management through the inclusion of environment in decision making, from identification, assessment and management of environmental risks, beginning from a project’s inception to operations and through decommissioning. He said  the firm recognises the importance of minimising its footprints and conserving biodiversity, even as it strives to continually achieve world class environmental excellence, especially by assessing and reducing its footprints and potential impacts from its operations on the environment.

    CNL’s commitment to preserving the environment has left enduring landmarks in the landscape, including the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) – a centre of excellence in environmental research and education reserved as a sanctuary for the rich flora and fauna of the Lekki Peninsula.

    LCC, which is a 78-­hectare facility, is the only one of such facilities in the Lagos area. It was established by CNL in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) in 1992.

    The support for the LCC best connects Chevron’s activities to the theme for the 2018 World Environment: Beat Plastic Pollution.

    CNL’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, said the firm is ever willing to continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to safeguard the environment.

    “We are continually working to improve our processes to reduce pollution and waste, conserve natural resources, and reduce potentially negative environmental impacts of our activities and operations,” he said.

  • Lafarge warns of plastic danger to aquatic life

    Lafarge Africa Plc has warned of the dangers of plastic pollution, especially for aquatic life in the country.

    Its Director of Communication Public Affairs and Sustainable Development, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, gave the warning at an awareness session to mark the World Environment Day, held last Tuesday.

    “As individuals, we can contribute our quota to beating the plastic pollution by re-using our plastics rather than dumping them on the streets or throwing them out of the windows of our cars as we often do. If you cannot re-use, dispose your plastics properly,” she said.

    Mrs Ambrose-Medebem called on Lagosians to be committed to proper disposal of plastics by recycling them. She said Lafarge Africa is willing to contribute her quota by way of co-processing of plastic wastes for our common good

    Giving more statistics on the dangers posed by plastics, Lafarge Africa Environment Manager, John Nya said 3.6 percent of the 500 billion tonnes of plastic bags consumed in the world end up in the oceans.

    Similarly, the Iyaloja-General, Lagos Island East, Lutifat Ojikutu, and the Vice Iyaloja, Lagos Island West, Mojisola Dangel, urged market men and women to take the message of proper plastic disposal to their colleagues and at home.

    The duo promised to continue to maintain a high standard of cleanliness in their markets of Lagos Island.

  • Anambra delegation understudies Lagos counterpart

    A delegation of environmentalists from Anambra State has praised the “greening initiative” of the Lagos State government.

    Members of the team, led by Anambra State Leisure Parks & Street Beautification Managing Director, Mrs. Ify Atogu, said they were highly impressed with what they saw in the state.

    Atogu spoke as the delegation concluded a week-long tour of Lagos State Parks and Gardens (LASPARK). The visit was to understudy LASPARK’s activities. The delegation also joined its host in planting trees.

    Atogu said the tour was at the instance of Governor Willy Obiano, who directed them to come and study the way Lagos was beautifying its environment with a view to replicate same in Anambra, and improve the performance of their agency. She described Obiano as a man “with open mind to development; lover of beautiful environment”.

    Atogu,  who joined the LASPARK crew in its tree planting exercise in Imota Local Council Development Area, Ikorodu Division, Lagos with her team, said she had learnt so much from LASPARK, especially in the workers’ commitment and passion for the job. She promised to take the experience home and encourage her workers to imbibe same.

    The Imota tree planting exercise was part of the LASPARK’s tree planting initiative to aid the actualisation of the agency’s set target of planting 10 million trees in the state by 2020.

    The exercise, which was led by the Agency’s General Manager, Mrs. Bilikis Adebiyi-Abiola, said the event is part of the activities to usher in the annual tree planting campaign holding next month.

    She explained that the choice of Imota Local Council Development Area for the exercise was borne out of the fact that the area had been a strategic partner in the cause of propagating the culture of tree planting in the state. The LASPARK chief said the same exercise had been successfully launched in Ikeja and Epe divisions, adding that it is also to ensure that the local community takes active part in the state greening programme.

    “This project is vital to our collective survival because trees are life, therefore, the life of every tree planted in this community today counts. We must own them and see them as means to an end,” she said. According to her, the exercise was also in line with the millenium development goals (MDG 7), aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability.

    She noted some of the importance of planting trees to include oxygen production; balancing of eco-system; reducing the effect of flash floods; filtration, as trees absorbs and reduces pollutants, provides amenity, aesthetic value and historical continuity. Trees also increase the value of properties and undeveloped land by more than 30 percent.

    Adebiyi-Abiola therefore, urged  Imota community to take the survival of the trees as a challenge in order to ensure that all the ”efforts of today do not amount to futility’.

    Imota Local Council Development Area Chairman, Wasiu Agoro, assured the Agency that ‘all the trees planted will survive and animals will not eat them”.   He said the founders of the community knew the importance of trees; hence, it has become trans-generational to preserve tress in the community.

    The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) zonal co-ordinator,  who represented the state co-ordinator, Mr. Charles Obiakolo, urged all Corps members within Ikorodu, especially Imota to protect the trees.

    While the Babaloja of Imota market appreciated the agency for choosing the community for the exercise and promised the co-operation and protection of the trees by all members, the Iyaloja of Imota market, Mrs Saidat Taiwo also commended the agency for the exercise and assured the agency that trees planted within the community will be well protected till maturity.

  • N10b housing estate for Abuja

    The race to reduce housing deficit in the country has taken a leap, following the inauguration of a 249 housing units estate, valued at about N10 billion in Abuja.

    The estate, known as ASO Garden Estate, stakeholders in the built environment said, was a reflection of what having a virile mortgage system in the country can offer.

    The project, The Nation gathered, was conceived and financed by ASO Savings and Loans and developed by Global High Property Development Limited. It is expected to raise the bar in housing projects delivery and also for mortgage institutions’ participation in housing development across the country.

    Indeed, for a country that is faced with a monumental housing shortage which has rendered millions of the citizens without homes or decent accommodation, it was a delight for the crowd that gathered to witness the inauguration of the first phase of the estate project.

    The ASO Gardens Estate comprises of 249 housing units. A breakdown of the units further revealed that it is made up of 129 units of  2-bedroom apartments; 117 units of 3-bedroom apartments and three units of 4-bedroom terrace houses. This brings the total construction cost of the estate to N10 billion.

    Located in the Karsana East District, which is part of Abuja Phase IV, the ASO Garden Estate is a serene community of exquisite homes on a 27 hectare site, just after Gwarinpa, along the Kubwa Express Road, precisely beside the Papal Ground. The estate will be developed in phases. To provide the ultimate lifestyle experience, the estate is in a serene environment and displays high quality infrastructures, recreational area and civic facilities.

    The Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Ahmed Dangiwa, who led dignitaries on a tour of the estate commended the Board, Management and Staff of ASO Savings and Loans Plc for “successfully completing a project of this magnitude in spite of the challenging economic environment.”

    Describing the ASO Gardens Estate project as a landmark achievement, especially in the country’s difficult journey toward addressing her housing shortage, Dangiwa expressed conviction that the project will go a long way in ameliorating the housing needs of people desiring to have their own homes in Abuja.

    “I therefore want to specially commend and congratulate ASO Savings and Loans Plc., and its partner on this project, because they are the financiers and mortgage provider. We are happy that these institutions are complementing the efforts of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and other agencies doing all within their capabilities to advance the cause of home-ownership for Nigerians of all classes,” he noted.

    The Chairman, Board of Directors of ASO Savings and Loans Plc, Ali Magashi said: “For those of you stakeholders, you know what a tough economic operating environment it has been for primary mortgage banks in Nigeria, as such, the delivery of the estate is no small feat for ASO.

    In similar vein, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, ASO Savings & Loans Plc, Risikatu Ahmed, said the successful completion of the project is a further testimony to ASO Savings’ vision to be the mortgage bank of choice in Nigeria in terms of client service and housing provision for the citizens.

    “The successful completion of this project in spite of the daunting challenges due to the difficult operating environment attests to the doggedness of our management team and our   never say fail spirit no matter how intimidating the odds are. We are determined to continue to surpass the expectations of our stake-holders,” she said.

  • Govt is committed to environmental bio-diversity, says commissioner

    The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to the management of its biodiversity, insisting that it is an asset that should be preserved for posterity, the Commissioner for the Environment, Babatunde Durosimi-Etti, he said.

    Speaking at this year’s World’s Biodiversity Day in Lagos, he  recalled that the government’s support for preservation of biodiversity was demonstrated during the fifth Lagos Climate Change Summit in 2013.

    He said the Durban Commitment, which the government signed, adding that the government has since made the commitment part of its Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) Programme and Development Plan.

    This year’s biodiversity day had as its theme: “Celebrating 25 years of action for biodiversity.”

    Dursimi-Etti, represented by the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on the Environment, Babatunde Hunpe, noted that the day was significant as it marked the adoption of the resolutions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by the United Nations in Nairobi, in 1992.

    He observed that the transition to green economy through biodiversity conservation, would strengthen the state’s and country’s economy, create jobs, reduce negative environmental impacts and ensure sustainability of the economy.

    The commissioner said in 2015, the ministry surveyed the five divisions in the state to assess the status of their wetlands which serve as habitats for her rich biodiversity. During the survey, 32 wetlands were recorded and only two wetlands were observed to still be in pristine state.

    Furthermore, he said the state government, in 2016, protected the two wetlands in their natural state for conservation. The two wetlands are located at Yafin in Badagry and Itoikin-Orugbo in Epe Division. Effort was being put in place to achieve one of the objectives of the state’s Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) of a balanced ecology rich in biodiversity that is protected, conserved and adapted sustainably, he added.

    “Today, as we join the rest of the world, let us see it as a clarion call to reflect individually on our role in biological resource conservation and rise up to the challenge of protecting the already stressed environment we live in. Our focus is to develop, in the nearest future, a legal framework for sustainable management of Wetlands and Biodiversity in the State and also prevent further unsustainable degradation of biodiversity in the state,” Durosimi-Etti said.

    He added that the state is blessed with a rich ecosystem and bio-diversity that provide for man’s food chain.

    He explained that prior to the celebration, Lagos had undertaken an identification and enumeration of trees in the metropolis. Also, the state in 2008 instituted a yearly tree planting day to enrich the biodiversity, with over seven million trees of various species planted across the state till date.

  • Experts endorse African Foundries steel works

    The Institution of Structural Engineers has endorsed African Foundries Limited to meet Nigeria’s demand for steel products.

    The members of the executives who visited the plant said they were amazed to see African Foundries Ltd fully automated, noting that AFL quality standards are very high and that they witnessed the testing procedures which were very stringent.

    The endorsement, the institute said was as a result of the company’s proven track record of churning out quality and durable steel products that have continued to surpass consumer’s expectations, maintaining that it is no surprise AFL is the number one choice for industry giants in the steel industry.

    The president of the Institute, Mr. Eddy Atumonyogo an engineer during a facility tour of AFL’s factory said “: Based on what we have seen, we will let our members know. We have been specifying your Tiger brand for quite some time now and most of the industry giants in the steel industry have also confirmed the quality of your brands. I am sure this will not be the end of collaboration between the Institute and AFL. We have a lot of programmes where I can give you visibility when we have our conferences for you to tell us more about your brands.”

    He acknowledged the fact that the company has the capacity to meet the nation’s demand for steel products, after listening to a presentation that illustrated the fact that the company’s installed capacity has been improvised to about 500,000 metric tonnes per annum.

    On his part, Secretary of the Institute, Bright Ukponu, stated that the company has bridged the demand and supply gap for steel products, adding that the company is proving to the world that good and quality products can be produced in the country.

  • Lagos gets new look with roads

    The infrastructural renewal in Lagos State, is edging forward as the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD) unveiled plans to link an adjoining community to the Third Mainland Bridge.

    The road, located in Odunsi Street, Bariga Local Council development Area (LCDA), a 1.5km stretch, with an approved width of 18m, begins from Ashogbon Street  terminating at Alhaji Ariyo and Akinbayo streets. From its design, the road is expected to integrate the Bariga community with the Third Mainland Bridge and Oworonshoki community respectively. On completion, it is expected to resolve thevtraffic bottlenecks along Jagunmolu and Tijani Ashogbon streets, which are always jammed at the peak period on a daily basis.

    The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rotimi Ogunleye, said the road will complement the upgraded/ reconstructed Pedro, Igi-Olugbin and Okuta streets, while the totality of the network of roads will bring improvement and succor to the citizenry.

    He stressed the state government’s resolve to continue the develop-ment of the landscape, so as to make life conducive for all. Ogunleye assured that the road will be completed on schedule and solicited the cooperation of the community and the youth.

    The Commissioner, at a stakeholders’ meeting before the commencement of construction work in the area, assured the residents that property owners on the street need not to entertain any fear, as plans have been put in place for enumeration, valuation and compensation. He said government will send directives to them on the necessary steps to take to get compensation.

    The Vice Chairman, Bariga Local Council Development Area, Mrs. Adeola Kuponiyi, thanked the state government for bringing development to their locality, assuring the government of the community’s resolve to continue to support the government and cooperate with all stakeholders in the construction of the road. “The road is very important to us at Odunsi Street. We will cooperate with the contractor to hasten the project,” she said.

    A Member of the State House of Assembly representing Shomolu Constituency 2, Rotiimi Abiru, appreciated the state government for executing the project during his tenure. He urged the community to keep up and further intensify their support and cooperation with the state government; he assured  them that government would most certainly pay compensation to those whose properties would be affected with the exercise. He urged the contractor to carry the community’s youth along during the construction period.

    A representative of CPELSTRAT Limited, the contractor to the project, Mr. Eric Osagiobare, assured that: “We will build the road to specification and after the completion you will be convinced of our quality. What we need to actualise this ambition is the cooperation of the community especially the youths, landlords and landladies,” he said.

    The chairman of Seriki Kusehin community development area, Chief Adeniji Adegboyega, appealed that all sands derived from the construction should be used to fill up the potholes of the adjoining streets. His counterpart from Orile Kusehin community development area, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Adebowale, wished the government and the contractor speedy construction.

    A resident in the area since 1996, Prince Rasak Eshinlokun, said this project has been long overdue. He admonished everybody within the community to give maximum cooperation and support to the government and the contractor.

    He urged government to be flexible in its documentation for compensation and ask for other means of identification because most landlords and landladies on the street does not have certificate of occupancy.

  • Rainy season: LASG Inspects dump site facilities

    In preparation for the coming rains, Lagos State Government has embarked on an inspection tour of dump site facilities across the state with a view to ensuring that operators comply with standards.

    Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said this while leading a team from the Ministry to the dump sites earlier.

    Durosinmi-Etti  said government has directed that additional platforms should be created at the dump sites, while  operators of dump sites and Transfer Loading stations have been asked to urgently apply  deodoriser to douse odours emanating from waste.

    He expressed the confidence that a cleaner and healthier Lagos was achievable if all hands were on deck through the cooperation of all stakeholders.

    At Solous 3 and Ewu-Elepe dump sites, where he inspected the ongoing road rehabilitation to ease traffic and enhance the turn-around time of compactors, he urged the operators to expedite the construction of the exit road for free movement of compactors in and out of the dump sites.

    At these dump sites and Agege Transfer Loading Station compactors were seen dumping and moving in and out without hitch.

  • Estate surveyors boost practice with resource centre

    To improve knowledge in its practice and bridge professional gap, the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), has established a resource centre and an e-library.

    The facility, located in the Ikeja Office of the Institution, is part of the initiative being put in place by the state executives, which aims to bring international standard to the profession locally.

    NIESV Chairman, Lagos branch, Mr. Olurogba Orimolade, explained that the resource centre will ensure that training, which hitherto are not undertaken in the country, take place on a weekly and monthly basis in specialised areas.

    “The resource centre will help us bring in people to teach us those technologies; the advantage is that nobody will have the need to go abroad for those skills. We are not only concerned about our fees, but also building capacity of our members. Foreign companies in Nigeria are using new technologies and that alone is disqualifying project managers meant to be supervising certain jobs,” he explained.

    Conducting journalists around the 11-seater classroom resource centre, Orimolade said it is designed to have the most current equipment and devices for organised master classes/training workshops. The main vision for the centre, he said, is to focus on training in key areas in the real estate industry, especially in the estate surveying and valuation profession.

    “This resource centre will be one of the tools that should help improve the professional skill set of our members and the public at large, through the various trainings and master classes which will be taking place there. The e-library has been created in a similar fashion. The plan is to have computer systems with unlimited Internet access for members mainly for the purpose of research,” he explained.

    The centre and e-library are part of the showcase during the 2018 Estate Surveyors and Valuers’ Week, which commenced last Sunday and will end tomorrow. The key highlight of the week included the inauguration of the remodelled branch secretariat by the President of NIESV, Roland Abonta, among others.

    On the protracted Land Use Charge, Orimalade said the branch will submit its report to the Lagos state government. The report, he revealed, is expected to advise the government on areas to improve upon, among others.

    “We have asked the government to look at the process from the angle that people want to pay tax but there should be clarity. The government has a right to come up with tax but the argument is if it is fair,” he said.

  • Facility management key to PPP success

    The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Acting Director-General, Chidi Izuwah, has said the Commission would promote facility management popularity through public private partnership (PPP) and its prospects through publicity campaigns, seminars, events and information materials. He also revealed plans to expand facility management through PPP in the country.

    He spoke at the seventh edition of the Nigerian Facilities Management Roundtable, themed: “Enabling positive experiences in a post-recession real estate market”. The Roundtable was organised by Alpha Mead Group, to commemorate the 2018 World Facility Management Day.

    According to him, facility management (FM) and PPP could be integrated for the upkeep, maintenance and operation of buildings such as offices, hospitals, schools, sporting complexes, convention centres, shopping complexes and hotels.

    This is because the integration of both FM and PPP becomes appreciable in the attempt to eradicate the discontinuities between design, construction, FM services and optimising life cycle costs. Besides, he noted that both represents a growing percentage of all PPPs being delivered today worldwide.

    Izuwah explained that by outsourcing FM services, public entities would be left to focus on the provision of public services, while the facility management operator would provide the best working environment, service and maintenance of such infrastructure.

    According to him, the PPP model is now an important global ideology for both funding and operational mechanism for public infrastructure. This is why the government is favourably disposed to PPP, and also an influencing consideration for the institution of ICRC. The Commission is to develop and enforce guidelines, policies and procurement processes for PPP at all government levels.

    “Facility management integrated with the PPP is a growing percentage of all the PPPs, for the maintenance and operation of infrastructure and buildings. FM services integrated with the PPP are critical in addressing deficit in asset maintenance in the country. Nigerian ports concession and the Garki General Hospital are two examples of successful FM PPP arrangements in the country,” he explained.

    The ICRC, he further said, will provide guidelines and advice for existing FM companies and for companies that want to grow their business in the FM area; develop standardised output specifications through consultation with the private sector.

    In similar vein, Group Managing Director, Alpha Mead, Mr. Femi Akintunde, agreed that in recent times, commendable PPP models geared towards increasing the infrastructure stock and enhancing the lives of Nigerians have dotted the country’s landscape. He however observed that most of them could not attain their optimal concessionary period before they were truncated.

    Delivering a PPP project, the Alpha Mead boss explained, requires skills, competencies and technicalities across various spectra. “What we are seeing currently is that beyond financial and technical capabilities, actors in PPP projects pay less attention to issues, especially maintenance and sustainability of the project. These inactions are affecting the quality of the PPP projects and the value they deliver to their stakeholders. At other times, the lacuna created by this attracts the wrath of the public, who feel the PPP actors take them for granted,” he said.

    Akintunde further noted the challenge of policy inconsistency by government as a major snag to effectiveness of PPP in the country; a factor he said has contributed to the huge infrastructure deficit and failure of existing PPP arrangements.

    “PPP has been unable to play a key role in our infrastructure stock because the private sector does not trust government policies to guarantee the future of their investment. Existing PPPs are at their current state because the private sector has no long-term view of the projects, hence they are interested in cashing out rather than ensuring that the projects fulfil their lifecycle,” he added.