The Nation Newspaper

Category: Building & Properties

  • Shodex Gardens’ chief holds colloquium, street cleaning

    An evironmentalist and Chairman of Shodex Gardens Mr. Olusola Adekoya, has led his workers and family members to a three-day-cleaning exercise of some Lagos streets.

    He also hosted children from various schools in Lagos, landscapers, environmentalists and climate change experts to a botanical talk at a colloquium on greenery, climate change, arts and life.

    The colloquim and the street cleaning  were part of activities to mark his 56th birthday.

    The colloquium, themed: “Greening: A major solution to climate change”, was attended by pupils from secondary and tertiary institutions in Lagos and Ogun states; the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) officials, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and Nigeria Society For Environmental Conservation members.

    A forest biologist, Dr. David Olajide Oladipo, hailed the celebrator for choosing what he described as “a topical issue that is negatively and positively affecting humanity globally”.

    According to him, green environment is still the best solution to the adverse effect of climatic change within the ozone layer. Extolling the ceIebrator, Oladipo said: “I commend Adekoya for appreciating the challenges in Nigeria and the world over the climate change and other environmental problems.  Unlike others, who would have rolled out the drums, Shodex chose to be modest by using his birthday to add value to his environment.”

    Adekoya called on Nigerians to take special interest in their environment. “You are as good as your environment. We must care for our environment in terms of cleanliness, purification of the oxygen we take in. I have spent the last 30 years protecting nature and creating a green environment. I challenge you to start a revolution in the green environment as there is more to be done,” he said.

  • ‘How Olusosun fire ended ‘waste war’

    The saying that there is blessing in adversity came to play last Friday, as the protracted dispute in waste collection in Lagos State was finally resolved. The Olusosun dumpsite fire, which raged for several days, provided an easy platform for the amicable resolution of the court-ordered negotiation/resolution of the dispute between the private sector participants (PSPs) and the state’s waste management concessionaire, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions.

    At a meeting, which held in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, stakeholders highlighted the need for urgent environmental remediation and the development of infrastructure to manage the 13,000 tons of waste generated daily in the state.

    Although Visionscape’s three transfer loading stations is 90 per cent completed, it has also started the construction of the first engineered landfill in Epe, development of more transfer loading stations and other waste infrastructure, it was gathered, has become even more important.

    Under the new arrangement, PSPs now Waste Collection Operators (WCOs) will continue to collect residential waste across the state, while Visionscape deepens its infrastructure development under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) and its  maintenance to achieve an environmentally-sustainable state.

    The company’s primary concern will be the development of the waste management infrastructure, including the transfer loading stations, biomass plant, recycling facility, waste to energy plants, landfill and dumpsite remediation, and waste water treatment infrastructure.

    This new direction, stakeholders are convinced, will guarantee that waste collected across the state is disposed according to globally-accepted standards. More importantly, it is believed that the construction of the engineered landfill in Epe and other strategic sites in the state will prevent environmental hazards like the fire outbreak experienced at the Olusosun dumpsite.

    “It is great that we have been able to partner with Visionscape Sanitation Solutions and the PSPs, where all efforts can be pushed towards the success of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative. We believe that small businesses are the true engine of economic growth and should be encouraged at all levels – this is what this partnership is about. Beyond the CLI goals of fostering a cleaner environment for Lagosians, we are also finding opportunities to provide an infrastructure and awareness initiatives that will enable an effective waste management system. Visionscape Sanitation Solutions and the PSPs are an inspiration to all and we look forward to a successful working relationship” said an obviously elated Special Adviser to the Governor on Cleaner Lagos Initiative, Adebola Shabi, an engineer. He added that the truce reached is of great importance for the good of the people of the State, considering that the resolution brings a necessary end to the waste dispute.

    Visionscape will focus on building proper infrastructure so that we don’t have another dumpsite fire incident like the one at Olusosun. While the PSPs will focus on general waste collection” – Engineer Adebola Shabi, The Special Adviser to the Governor on Cleaner Lagos Initiative

    For the Chief Executive Officer, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions, John Irvine, the concession of residential waste collection to WCOs gives Visionscape Sanitation Solution the opportunity to focus on the State’s waste management infrastructure and facilities, which he noted to be crucial to the success of effective waste management as being practiced across the developed world. “The infrastructural development has always been the core of our agreement with the Lagos State government. This new arrangement gives us the chance to concentrate our effort on devel

     

  • Procurement bureau asks surveyors to fight graft

    The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has charged members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to tackle corruption in the industry.

    Its Director-General, Mamman Ahmadu, spoke when the institute’s  executives, led by its President, Mr. Femi Onashile,  visited him in Abuja.

    The BPP chief praised the NIQS for its readiness to partner Federal Government’s agencies to reduce construction costs and ensure compliance with best practices.

    According to Ahmadu,  corruption cuts across ministries and agencies, saying it was high time professionals, particularly cost experts in construction, did more than talking to check corruption.

    He urged professional bodies to punish members found guilty of corruption.

    Onashile canvassed the adoption of stricter project monitoring.

    He said by limiting BPP’s oversight to due diligence at pre-award stage of projects and not  monitoring the projects, corruption would thrive.

    “For BPP to make better impact in delivering value-for-money, it must take its oversight influence beyond the pre-award of contracts; even throughout the construction phase of the projects. This is to ensure that approvals are not circumvented through the possible corrupt compromise of either quality standards or the specified sizes of such projects or both to reduce the actual costs without passing the cost reduction to the government,” Onashile said.

    He implored the BPP to develop an alternative contract form, adding that while the one they are using is working well in civil engineering projects, it is not in building projects.

    Acknowledging BPP’s effort in fast-tracking due diligence and ensuring faster take off of projects, the NIQS chief called for the engagement of more quantity surveyors in the agency to enable it discharge its oversight effectively.

    “We believe as experts in cost and procurement management of capital projects from conception to completion, we have vital roles to play in prudent costing of projects, procurement management and project monitoring to ensure better earned value for money,” Onashile added.

    Meanwhile, BPP has employed a transaction adviser on  contracts.

    By this, BPP hopes to cut the cost of construction projects.

  • ‘Six-month grace to property owners not revenue drive’

    Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rotimi Ogunleye says the government’s  six-month grace to property owners without building permit is not a revenue drive strategy. It is to boost planning and assist property owners, he says in this interview with MUYIWA LUCAS. 

    Your ministry recently announced  six months’ grace to property owners to enable them regularise their  building permit. Why did you do this?

    Why we have told people to come and do from March 1 to August 31 is that, unlike before when they tell you that the precondition to get your building permit is to bring registered title, we have removed that precondition. We will accept a family receipt issued by the land owners, even though it is not registered. During this period, we will waive penalties for those that come to do the regularisation. But, if you come after the deadline of August 31, then you will have to pay the penalty that obtained before the grace period. Regularisation is applicable to buildings; but new buildings owners without registered titles can also come and get their building permits. So, the incentive is that we are waiving the penal fee that applies during this period. You see, quite a number of people have built without permits, and we don’t want this to continue. Having a permit ensures that your building is recognised by the government. It tells us that the building exists somewhere. So, if, peradventure, a road is going to be constructed, which will affect one’s building and it has a permit, then the permit will enhance the value of the building and the compensation that will be paid.

    Some stakeholders see this grace period as a revenue drive by the government. How do you react to this?

    That is not correct. The main reason is not  to drive revenue. You know Lagos is a mega city. With over 24 million people, the state is being reprogrammed for proper development, and also being upgraded towards becoming a smart city. To achieve this, we need accurate data for planning, including knowing the demographic factors,  and how many houses are in place. This will enable the government to determine the size of a general hospital or a primary healthcare facility to build in such a place. It also tells us the size of a road an area needs, including electricity transformers. While I agree that the government is not primarily responsible for providing transformers, it is the duty of the electricity companies; but since this administration assumed office in 2015, it has put in place quite a number of transformers in various communities. So, it is when we look at the data here in the Physical Planning Ministry that we can say there are so many houses in Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, Ikeja and plan for them adequately. We can only be accurate on this when we look at our records and see the number of people that have obtained our planning permits. The state Urban and Regional Planning and Development law is not new. It has been there and as old as Nigeria and laws are subject to amendment. The law says that any development that you want to do, just get approval before you do  it. This is why the advanced countries are able to plan properly for their people because they have demographic indices for planning. I know many buildings that have been put up without planning permits in the last 10 years across all divisions of the state. With the influx of people into Lagos daily, we need all these details for planning. That is why we are doing that and not really for revenue generation.

    How many buildings are you targeting ?

    We have no target, but we enjoin people to make use of the window because it affords everyone, developers inclusive, the opportunity to regularise their building permits without paying penalty. Going by the law, violators must pay the penalty because the laws says you cannot build without building permits. However, during these six months, we leave you to regularise with no penalty. So, we are not looking at any number, it depends on how the people respond and understand the importance of being on the right side of the law.

    What is the approval process like because the 28-day approval time being bandied by the government seems to be on paper?

    That is not true with this administration. We have simplified the approval process. The delay experienced is from those applying for Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). In this administration, the 28-day approval is sacrosanct. Counting of the days starts when an applicant submits the documents and without any irregularity. Some applicants disappear for a month or more when it is time to pay before reappearing, In such an instance, we do not count that period as part of the processing because it’s not our fault that an applicant didn’t pay as at when due. We even have what we call “fast-track” processing such that you can get your approval in 10 days, but it attracts extra charges. We have eliminated the delays; we even have app with which you can apply for your planning permit online. For your information, because of the massive transformation we have done in this ministry, it has really pushed up the state and country on the ladder of “Ease of Doing Business” moving the country up from the 169th position to 45th out of 189 countries. It is the activities of our operational framework, which have been tasted that has made this advancement to be possible. So, the delay right now is not from us; we have perfected our system and are ready to deliver once the customer has fully complied on his own part.

    There have been calls for an upgrade in the state’s masterplan on drainage, especially as the rains approach. What is your ministry doing about it?

    The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development is responsible for designing masterplans for the entire state. In preparation for the rainy season, the government recommended the clearing of drainages, which is the responsibility of Ministry of Environment. Our responsibility is to identify and recommend areas where drainages are appropriate. We design drainages along with proposed roads; that is, once a new road is being established, drainages must be designed with it. Such proposal is to dislodge waste water into the Lagoon. The design of roads and drainages is the responsibility of Ministry of Works while the maintenance is that of Ministry of the Environment.

    What about the spate of coastal development? Is it not part of your ministry’s work?

    The masterplan has designated various uses along the coastal lines with setback regulations.The Regional Masterplan department in the Ministry in preparation for these coastal development prepares setbacks to be observed in various waterbodies, such as canals, oceans, lagoons, and streams. We specify the areas and limits to be developed to avoid disaster. The Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure is in charge of coastal development.

    What are you doing about the over 100 slum settlements?

    We have an agency, the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), which  regenerates and turns them into better settlements. So, we have the template for these slums to regenerate them so that we have a city that is not only efficient, but also effective and aesthetically fascinating. We have a plan for each of them, but you will agree with me that you cannot do everything thing at the same time considering the cost. Regeneration of slums costs a lot of money- you have to demolish houses and for a democratic government, where you demolish house, you are expected to pay compensation. I must say this administration is putting a human face to its compensation payments because we are not strictly adhering to law of compensation payment. If you go by the law strictly, there are categories of people that are really not qualified to be compensated because they don’t have anything to show that their building or structure was approved by the government. But because this is a democratic government that is very passionate about her people, that is why Governor Akinwunmi Ambode ensures that we  compensate everybody, including those without permit or approval to build.

    So, is regeneration or development about demolition?

    It is not all about demolition. But if you look at what is happening, then there are instances where this becomes inevitable. First, building regulations have some specifics – in terms of spacing,  creating right of way for other users, the conveniences, and structures. So, if you want to regenerate blighted portions in the slums, there is no way you won’t remove certain things and replace them. In some of these slums, you may not even get a space to build a hospital. But I can tell you that we are eliminating some of these inadequacies as we are upgrading our settlement. For your information, you know that under the Land Use Act, there is differentiation between land in an urban and rural areas.

  • ‘Obey town planning laws or face sanctions’

    LAGOS State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development  Commissioner Rotimi Ogunleye has charged residents to  obey town planning laws.

    He spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authourity (LASPPPA) for Amuwo-Odofin Local Government and Oriade Local Council Development Areas.

    He urged Lagos residents to obtain building permits to enable them have safe properties, adding that this could also serve as a collateral for loans.

    Ogunleye explained that building with permits would ensure that the city is planned, and tourism-friendly.

    The Special   Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde  Onabule, reiterated that planning was essential to developing a smart city.

    She advised residents to inform the government of any violations  to avert building collapse.

    The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Boladele Dapo-Thomas,   thanked the people for supporting the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration, urging them to keep on supporting the government to do more projects.

    LASPPPA General Manager Mr. Funmi Osifuye, a town planner, explained that creating functional communities requireds adhering to the “Operative Development Plan” for the areas.

    He said the development plan for Amuwo-Odofin LGA and the Oriade LCDA was the Badagry Masterplan covering 2012 -2032.

    Osifuye, however, said the government was aware of the various factors affecting the approval of planning permits for developers, such as land title on federal and state acquisitions, illegal conversions, and illegal development.

    He said the government had  made   provisions to encourage compliance with building plan laws through continuous public sensitisation. Besides, he said the process had been  made easy for the public.

    Osifuye said there was a provision for the electronic submission of applications via the ministry’s website, payment/validation of processing fees, email notifications, status and dashboards for electronic stage-tracking of applications and provisional planning permit.

    Osifuye warned that the state’s policy on regularisation for applicants who had illegally converted their buildings to other uses still subsists, adding that there is a moratorium of six months from this month to August, for developers and property owners who had either started construction or built without obtaining the requisite planning permit.

    He urged Lagosians to seize the opportunity for voluntary compliance with the rules to avoid penalty.

     

  • Ogun orders 15 firms to instal waste treatment plants

    TO address pollution and safeguard the environment, the Ogun State government has ordered over 15 industries to install  effluent treatment plants (ETPs) for their waste water.

    Its Commissioner for Environment, Bolaji Oyeleye, gave the order in Abeokuta, the state capital during the World Water Day.

    He said the government had become more aggressive in enforcing the obligatory duty of industrial facilities to install ETPs to protect the state’s ground and surface water bodies.

    Oyeleye said the release of toxic substances from industries into the environment had long-term effects that could be detrimental to the health of the people. He  added that the state’s status as an industrial hub  mandated the ministry to be alive to its core responsibility of monitoring effluent discharges of industries.

    “Within the last three years, more than 15 industries had been compelled to put in place ETP while several others have had to either expand the capacity of existing ones or reactivate them. At present, several others are on the verge of full compliance with this requirement,” he said.

    Oyeleye noted that the unregulated exploitation of groundwater  had serious consequences on the environment, saying it had become imperative for the state government to introduce water abstraction regulations for the benefit of the future generations.

    “Groundwater is something that we need all over the world. Humans and animals need water in order to survive as our bodies could not function without it. However, the uncontrolled and unregulated use of groundwater is replete with serious consequences. This becomes imperative for us to safeguard ourselves and children for these consequences,” he said.

  • Our plan for 2018, by UNFCCC

    The year is poised to be full of important milestones where more detailed policy is to be put in place that can unleash higher ambition and stronger action now and in the future.

    These relate to catalysing increased climate action before 2020, coordinating an important international conversation to check progress and negotiations to unlock the full potential of the Paris Agreement.

    Given the importance of reaching these milestones, UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) began assisting countries and chairs of specific negotiating forums as early as January to plan their work and map out the year.

    “With countries clearly in the driving seat of the climate change process, we look forward to supporting nations towards the 2018 milestones throughout the year and at the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24), to be held in Katowizce, Poland, in December 2018,” said Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change.

    Following the adoption and early entry into force of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, many may understandably ask why there is yet again talk of milestones in the climate change negotiations. The short answer is that the negotiations need to enable the implementation of ever more decisive and defining climate action, including through policies. The long answer below will attempt to shed more light on this and to explain the milestones.

     

    Action before 2020

    Action before 2020 is critically important. This is mainly because countries want continuous action without any gaps given that their climate action plans (nationally determined contributions – NDCs) will likely be fully implemented from 2020 onwards. But it is equally important because strong action now lays the foundation for stronger action later. To this end, the climate change negotiations have put in place the extension of the Kyoto Protocol up to 2020, a process known as the Doha Amendment. The Doha Amendment is subject to ratification at the national level. In the run-up to 2020, the Protocol remains an essential vehicle for many developed countries to make more rapid and urgent cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions.

    The protocol, since its adoption at COP3 on December 11, 1997, has become a beacon of climate action and an inspiring precursor to the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, because it demonstrated that international climate change agreements can bring the countries of the world together to address a global problem.

    As of March 1, 110 parties have deposited their instrument of acceptance. To enter Doha into force requires 144 of the 192 parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

    “Thanks to Kyoto, we have built a solid foundation, paving the way for even greater action in the context of the Paris Agreement,” said Ms Espinosa,. “I urge those countries which have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of acceptance as soon as possible,” she added.

    To further boost action before 2020, a special forum will take place at COP24 in Katowice in December. In preparation for this, countries may make submissions around strengthened action before 2020 by May 1, 2018. These submissions will serve as valuable input for the forum. Lastly, it is very important that developing countries receive assistance to act.

  • Visionscape promises cleaner Lagos

    The Visionscape Sanitation Solutions (VSS) has restated its commitment to the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) policy.

    The firm expressed its willingness to work with PSP operators.

    Visionscape’s Head of Corporate Communication Motunrayo Elias  said this during a chat with The Nation in Lagos.

    She said over 100 PSP operators had joined Visionscape to assist in waste collection.

    “Our plan is to serve the residential areas of Lagos. We have a lot of black spots or illegal dump sites in the state. We want to clear  the black spots before moving into the residential areas,” she said.

    Elias praised the PSPs for the work they did before Visionscape came. She said the company was willing to work with PSP operators. She explained that tremedous progress had been made. “We are willing and we have made progress and we will work together,” Elias said, adding that though the firm started operations last January,  progress had been made in delivering a cleaner Lagos.

    She said Visionscape was embarking on advocacy programmes at the grassroots.

    VSS Head of Planning, Kiran Reddy noted that the waste management company had cleared 2000 of the 5000 illegal dumpsites or black spots in the state.

    He said illegal 5000 dumpsites were identified during a study of the state.

    “We found approximately 5000 black spots with waste from five tonnes to 150 tonnes and we have cleaned up approximately 2000 black spots. We rented trucks, used pay loaders to clean these dumpsites,” he explained.

    Highlighting efforts by the firm to rid Lagos of refuse, Kiran said over 15, 000 bins had been distributed across the state and that by the end August, over 20,000 galvanised bins would have been distributed.

    He noted that four million plastic bags had been distributed to residents of Lagos, adding that 10 million plastic bags would be distributed before the end of the year.

  • ‘Obey town planning laws or face sanctions’

    LAGOS State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development  Commissioner Rotimi Ogunleye has charged residents to  obey town planning laws.

    He spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authourity (LASPPPA) for Amuwo-Odofin Local Government and Oriade Local Council Development Areas.

    He urged Lagos residents to obtain building permits to enable them have safe properties, adding that this could also serve as a collateral for loans.

    Ogunleye explained that building with permits would ensure that the city is planned, and tourism-friendly.

    The Special   Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde  Onabule, reiterated that planning was essential to developing a smart city.

    She advised residents to inform the government of any violations  to avert building collapse.

    The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Boladele Dapo-Thomas,   thanked the people for supporting the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration, urging them to keep on supporting the government to do more projects.

    LASPPPA General Manager Mr. Funmi Osifuye, a town planner, explained that creating functional communities requireds adhering to the “Operative Development Plan” for the areas.

    He said the development plan for Amuwo-Odofin LGA and the Oriade LCDA was the Badagry Masterplan covering 2012 -2032.

    Osifuye, however, said the government was aware of the various factors affecting the approval of planning permits for developers, such as land title on federal and state acquisitions, illegal conversions, and illegal development.

    He said the government had  made   provisions to encourage compliance with building plan laws through continuous public sensitisation. Besides, he said the process had been  made easy for the public.

    Osifuye said there was a provision for the electronic submission of applications via the ministry’s website, payment/validation of processing fees, email notifications, status and dashboards for electronic stage-tracking of applications and provisional planning permit.

    Osifuye warned that the state’s policy on regularisation for applicants who had illegally converted their buildings to other uses still subsists, adding that there is a moratorium of six months from this month to August, for developers and property owners who had either started construction or built without obtaining the requisite planning permit.

    He urged Lagosians to seize the opportunity for voluntary compliance with the rules to avoid penalty.

     

  • Ogun orders over 15 firms to instal ETPs

    NO address pollution and safeguard the environment, the Ogun State government has ordered over 15 industries to install  effluent treatment plants (ETPs) for their waste water.

    Its Commissioner for Environment, Bolaji Oyeleye, gave the order in Abeokuta, the state capital during the World Water Day.

    He said the government had become more aggressive in enforcing the obligatory duty of industrial facilities to install ETPs to protect the state’s ground and surface water bodies.

    Oyeleye said the release of toxic substances from industries into the environment had long-term effects that could be detrimental to the health of the people. He  added that the state’s status as an industrial hub  mandated the ministry to be alive to its core responsibility of monitoring effluent discharges of industries.

    “Within the last three years, more than 15 industries had been compelled to put in place ETP while several others have had to either expand the capacity of existing ones or reactivate them. At present, several others are on the verge of full compliance with this requirement,” he said.

    Oyeleye noted that the unregulated exploitation of groundwater  had serious consequences on the environment, saying it had become imperative for the state government to introduce water abstraction regulations for the benefit of the future generations.

    “Groundwater is something that we need all over the world. Humans and animals need water in order to survive as our bodies could not function without it. However, the uncontrolled and unregulated use of groundwater is replete with serious consequences. This becomes imperative for us to safeguard ourselves and children for these consequences,” he said.