The Nation Newspaper

Category: Building & Properties

  • World Water Day: Group seeks end to plastic pollution

    AN organisation Earth Day Network (EDN) has launched  a campaign to stop plastic pollution as part of activities marking the World Water Day.

    The World Water Day is  observed on March 22 yearly to highlight the importance of freshwater and advocate the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

    According to the EDN, plastic particles abound in drinking water and, with the “End plastic pollution” campaign, it hopes that the trend would end soon.

    Exploring how microplastic pollution gets into the drinking water, the group notes that microplastics (extremely small pieces of plastic) are in almost all water systems in the world – streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.

    It notes that 83 percent of the samples of tap water tested from major metropolitan areas around the world were contaminated with plastic fibres. In another study, EDN adds, 93 percent of water samples from major bottled water suppliers from around the world showed signs of microplastic contamination, including polypropylene, nylon,and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

    The EDN said: “The ways microplastics enter our water supply are surprising. Microplastics emanate from clothing, cosmetics, car tyres, and paint chips, among other sources. They’re also created from plastic items as they erode into smaller and smaller pieces.

    “You might think that water purification systems run by cities and companies remove these microplastics, but you would be wrong. Plastic fibres are so tiny that they seem to be able to pass through the filtering systems used to purify the water from streams or rivers that goes into our homes and water bottles. They are also small enough to be easily transported by the wind.

    “Since we seem to be drinking water contaminated with microplastics, what impact does this have on our health? We know that plastics contain chemicals added during the manufacturing process and that plastics absorb other toxins from the water. We know that those chemicals, when consumed by humans, have been associated with some health issues.

    “You’ll be surprised to learn the ways plastic in drinking water can potentially harm the people who drink it!”

    The group urges individuals, organisations and educators to learn more about the issue and organise friends, family, and community to put an end to plastic pollution.

  • BPP challenges NIQS members on corruption

    The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has employed a transaction adviser on  contracts.

    By this, BPP hopes that the cost of construction projects would be reduced.

    Its Director-General, Mamman Ahmadu, made this known when the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) 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 current one was working well for civil engineering projects, it was 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.

  • Shodex Gardens chief holds colloquium, street cleaning

    Environmentalist and Chairman of Shodex Gardens Mr. Olusola Adekoya has led his workers and family members to clean some Lagos streets.

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

    The colloquim and the three-day street cleaning  were part of activities marking 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 pro

  • Stakeholders move to ameliorate risk assest

    Experts and stakeholders have converged on Lagos to find a solution to the problem of non-performing collaterised risk assets in banks, especially the mortgage.

    The meeting held under the aegis of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN),  in collaboration with the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV).

    The forum had as theme: “Panacea to collaterised non-performing assets: bankers and valuers perspectives.”

    The group noted that the rising profile of non-performing portfolios granted to the real estate sector had been a source of worry. In 2015, it said the total risk assets of banks was five per cent, a figure that had risen to 15 per cent as at last October.

    This translates to triple the limit acceptable by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for non-performing assets.

    The lenders blamed most of the development on inconsistent valuation reports used in granting credit facility to developers. The group noted the impact of valuation reports and the way out of the predicament. They aimed at  solution to the numerous cases of non-performing assets.

    For the guest speaker, Mr. Akin Olawore, an estate surveyor and valuer, valuation is a risk management tool, which if properly deployed, is a useful  will help banks in assessing risks. It also provides banks with useful guide for fallback position on loan in case of default. Hence, valuation by certified surveyors is needed as guide against banks’non-performing collateral risk assets.

    “Valuations has different concepts and for many purposes. This is why it is expedient for bankers to disclose purposes they require valuation reports for. It is not just enough to approach a valuer and say give me valuation. Banks should respect the view of the valuers in achieving common objective. Valuers are to protect bankers against risk collateral assets,” Olawore said.

    According to him, overcoming this challenge requires continuous and close dialogue between all stakeholders, especially between valuers and bankers, who he said, needed to have a better understanding of themselves.

    Olawore listed insufficient legal and or due diligence; inaccurate data, collusion and fraudulent practices, swap of valued properties, wide disparity of figures by valuers as some of the reasons for the conflict between bankers and valuers.

    Similarly, another valuer, Mr Lanre Bolu, spoke about the timeliness of valuation, noting that the one done two years ago could not stand the test now, hence the need for re-evaluation.

    Other speakers at the forum, chaired by Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria (MBAN) President, Mr Adeniyi Akinlusi, also noted improper documentation, over invoicing, inconsistent valuation, among others, as some of the challenges of collaterised risk assets.

    CIBN President, Professor Segun Ajibola, expressed worries over the rising risk assets of banks. He said banks relied on real estate to protect their portfolio, said profitability and to discharge their duties.

    He called on estate surveyors and valuers to assist banks in valuing and reviewing properties and also provide advisory services, especially as it applies to collateral.

    Solutions proffered to mitigate the situation include: the use of alternative dispute resolution, epecially mediation to achieve a mutually acceptable settlement option, sale and lease back, modified public auction and sealed bid auction as panacea.

    Also, notably was the call on bankers avoid strained relationships with their customers by encouraging loan restructuring, the use of auctioneering in discharging assets before final sale to AMCON, bankers not to give offer letter without valuation, effective legislation to strengthen foreclosure law in the country, and also the need to simplify and reduce time for mortgage litigation.

  • Erosion, Flood Control: EFO laments paucity of funds

    The Ecological Fund Office (EFO) at the Presidency has complained of paucity of funds to address environmental challenges confronting the country.

    It said the Office received about 1.1 trillion requests from states, specifically for soil erosion and flood control, which did not include drought, desertification and coastal zone management, nor does it include pollution control.

    EFO Permanent Secretary, Dr. Habiba Lawal disclosed this in Abuja during an interactive session with reporters.

    Lawal, who called for the timely release of ecological funds by the Federal Government, urged states and local governments to apply their shares, rather than rely on the Federal Government.

    Lawal added that since 2015, no fund has been set aside for ecological programmes. She regrets that in this administration, no approval has been granted from the fund. “The greatest challenge we are facing is the dearth of funds. The country is faced with a lot of ecological issues with meagre funds to tackle them. Regrettably, what we noticed is that while one is being solved, another one is being created,” she explained.

    On projects completion and inauguration, Lawal revealed that outstanding completed projects would be inauguration in few weeks and handed-over to the various benefiting communities. She said the projects implemented since commencement of this administration would be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    “Since the inception of this administration in May 2015, 88 projects were warded, 45 have been completed and 43 are still on-going. About 90 per cent are on soil erosion,” Lawal said. She however warned that if the entire problem were left to the Federal Government alone, less impact would be recorded.

  • Recycling to contribute $400b to global GDP

    The President of Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), Ranjit Baxi, has said the benefits of recycling are immense.

    Baxi, who spoke last Sunday, in London, the United Kingdom, during the first-ever “Global Recycling Day”, noted that the recycling industry provides two million jobs; saves 70 million tons of carbon emissions annually; reduces waste; promotes health and hygiene, and is projected to add $400 billion to the global gross domestic product by 2025.

    According to the BIR President, because recycling plays such a crucial role in the preservation of the planet, this necessitated the coming together of stakeholders on Global Recycling Day to showcase the work already being done and to discuss what else can be done.

    The aim of the Global Recycling Day, which coincides with the BIR’s 70th anniversary, is to unite people across the world, highlight the need to conserve the six primary resources (water, air, coal, oil, natural gas and minerals) and celebrate what is described as “the Seventh Resource” – the materials man recycle every day.

    “The goal for Global Recycling Day is to show the world that there is a  Seventh Resource, as economically viable as, and more sustainable than, the six key primary resources: air, water, oil, natural gas, minerals and coal. Recycling is a global issue, the environment is a global issue and this day celebrates that and pushes us all – wherever we live – to do more. March 18, 2018, marks the 70th anniversary of BIR, making 2018 a landmark year to create a day that recognises the vital role recycling and the industry plays in protecting the planet,” Baxi said.

    In addition to being a day for encouraging and promoting recycling, Global Recycling Day also serves as a day of action, according to the BIR. On March 18, world leaders, international businesses, communities and individuals made clear commitments in their approach to recycling, and consumers asked to answer key questions about recycling, allowing them to think of recycling in a new way.

    “We want Global Recycling Day itself to be a day of celebration, championship and change – a celebration of the food and materials around us, a championship of the good recycling can do and a change in our attitudes and practices toward our own waste and recycling habits,” states Baxi.

    In Nigeria, the day was celebrated by the Chanja Datti Recycling Company, which held a 7:00 a.m. walk at the Eagle Square in Abuja, to push advocacy for recycling. Chanja Datti is also running an upcycling contest, where people can create an artistic people or artwork from only recyclable materials and post it on social media using the hashtag #GRDupcyclingCompetition.

    Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Limited, operators of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, ran a number of awareness raising messages via its Twitter account. Why some highlighted the benefits of recycling and the seven main categories of materials that can be recycled, others announced the occasion.

    In a Twitter message, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), says: “Recycling plays a key role in achieving a more sustainable production and consumption model. It’s about action and taking better stewardship of the goods created, used and disposed off everyday.”

  • ‘Property Square is changing real estate perception’

    The Executive Producer and Main Anchor of Property Square, a radio programme on real estate, Mr. Ambrose Igboke, has said the programme, which began transmission in February, has transformed real estate, redefining its concept in the process.

    Igboke said the show was not confined to construction but covered  the entire value chain of professionals that constitute the real estate sector.

    He explained that Property Square is an engaging and lively radio programme with the main objective to address the knowledge gap between stakeholders in the real estate sector and the vast majority of Nigerians. Igbokwe also assured that Property Square will deliver quality information, discussions, reports, profiles, and other issues in the real estate sector in Nigeria and beyond.

    “The uniqueness and strength of the programme is that it discusses everything real estate,” he added.

    Property Square, a 30-minute radio programme, is divided into four major segments, each, dealing with issues on safety, security and legal constituents of the sector as well as an interview segment which features the critical stakeholders in real estate.

    Igboke further revealed that  Property Square will ultimately emerge as the number one real estate programme on radio due to its versatility; where everything in real estate is discussed.

  • Fed Govt’s National HousingProject nearing completion

    Efforts by the Federal Government to reduce housing deficit through its National Housing Programme (NHP) are on course. Last week, officials of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (FMPWH), accompanied by some reporters toured some projects in two states.

    At one of the sites in Abere, Osun State, the Deputy Director, (Architecture), FMPWH, Mrs Lola Onwubalili, said work had reached 70 per cent completion.

    Mrs Onwubalili, who is the project Team Leader in the state, revealed that the housing project consisted 68 units comprising two blocks of two-bedroom and two blocks of three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, including a condominium. The condominium block which is still under construction has 24 blocks in all, consisting of four units of one-bedroom, 16 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom apartments. The team leader further disclosed that 16 units have been practically completed while infrastructure such as water, power and road are 90 per cent ready.

    She explained that the project, which is meant to help address the housing deficit in the country, has immensely benefitted the public, including artisans, bricklayers, contractors, food vendors.  For instance, 12 contractors were involved in the project, and they all sourced their building materials locally, including engaging about 360 direct employees aside from other indirect jobs.

    A sand supplier met on site, Mrs. Adewuyi Modinat, and  a food vendor, Mrs. Titilayo Ayanlola, lauded government for creating jobs through the initiative. They further called for early commencement of the second phase of the project.

    “Osun State project is one of the five on-going sites in the south-west and we are proud to say it is the best in terms of progress of work. “The programme has provided jobs not only for contractors and building professionals, but scores of skilled artisans and hundreds of unskilled labourers,” she said.

    In Ede, Osun State, the Federal Controller, FMPWH, Mr. Kolawole Kukoyi, described the NHP situated in Ede North Local Government as part of government’s efforts to provide affordable housing for the people. Though, he explained that the modalities for allocation of the units upon completion is yet to be arrived at, he nonetheless gave assurances that the interest of the masses will be at the centre of the final allocation decision.

    Meanwhile, in Kwara State, the project’s Team Leader, Kunle Shonibare, said the state NHP has 38 blocks consisting 76 units of flats being executed by 19 contractors. He explained that the project which has reached 60 per percent completion, will be completed before December, 2018.

    The Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Abdulganiyu Mustapha, an engineer, lauded the Federal Government’s housing scheme initiative, stressing that it should be replicated in other constituencies in the state. He pledged his state’s commitment to provide additional land for second phase of the project, saying that there is need for synergy between both the state and Federal Governments to understand the peculiarity of the state and the need to deliver impactful projects.

    Representatives of the Kwara State Association of Suppliers attested to the benefit that has come their on the project. They noted that 34 of their members have so far benefitted from the scheme as they were given the opportunity to supply all the building materials needed for the project.

  • Town planners advise Lagos on drainage masterplan

    With the rainy season fast approaching and given the perenial flooding in Lagos,especially in settlements along the coastline, consultants and town planners have called on the state government to revisit its drainage masterplan put in place a few years  ago.

    However, three year ago, the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment developed a drainage master plan as part of proactive measures to tackle the menace of flooding in the entire state. The plan was in partnership with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants, with headquarters in Beirut.

    The government embarked on the project to eliminate flooding in the state, especially with global climate change and its ravaging impact being witnessed across the globe. Besides, it was also as a reaction to the heavy rainfalls witnessed in recent years, which is an indication that some areas in the state may be submerged by flood if drastic measures were not put in place. Hence, the need for a well planned storm water drainage system to eliminate flooding and improve the efficiency of the land use.

    At a lecture titled: Planning For Infrastructure in Lagos Mega City, held by the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria’s (ATOPCON)  as part of its 2018 Annual General Meeting in Lagos, stakeholders emphasised the need for the urgent review of the masterplan. The lecture was delivered by Olajide Dosunmu, an engineer.

    Reacting to the lecture, former president, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr. Ajayi Bunmi, rued the neglect of a drainage masterplan of the state which was commissioned during the regime of a military governor of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. (rtd.) Mobolaji Johnson. Bunmi said the state would do itself much good if it can revisit this document, review same and implement.

    A former Commissioner in the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Francisco Abosede, warned of the consequences of not having a drainage master plan in the state, especially along Lekki-Ajah axis.

    Abosede, who said he “foresees a disaster along Lekki corridor because there is no visible drainage master plan,” urged the state government to as a matter of urgency, take on the old plan, review it, before considering new plans for the developing settlements in the state. Besides, he charged the  state’s planning authority to always make adequate plan for waste water, warning that not having waste water plan portends danger for a mega city like Lagos.

    President of ATOPCON, Mr. Idris Salako a Town Planner, reiterated the importance of a town planner as critical in advancing the goals of infrastructural development, which he reckons to be the cornerstone of sustainable development.

    “You could say that planning for infrastructure is the primary foundation in urban development, including communication, energy and transport. But any weakening voice in advancing the goals of infrastructural development could only be a weakening of sustainable urban development,” he warned.

    The immediate past chairman of Lagos ATOPCON, Omotayo Awomosu, noted that town planning could not be divorced from its operating environment. He, therefore, called for enactment of a new planning regulations to fill the void created since 2010 when the state government repealed the previous planning regulations.

    According to him, a more efficient planning permit system is needed in Lagos.  “This should be one that delivers development permits at the shortest possible time and lowest cost to applicants, as the current system does not guarantee this in spite of the ongoing ease of doing business campaign in the state,” Awomosu said.

    He further explained that “the proposed electronic planning permit system should cut through the existing bureaucracy and not just move the existing inefficient manual process into the digital space,”  while also advocating that all the necessary resources needed to automate the planning permit system such as enterprise/web bases, GIS and adequate base maps must be provided to make the new platform workable and responsive to the needs of the users.

    Awomosu said: “Lagos State deserves a more democratic planning system. The current system is top-down, and the various gaps in policy and practice promote discretionary practices and hence, arbitrariness.”

    He noted that the state government, having prepared plans for most of the districts under the Lagos Megacity Model Plans, should also prepare master plans for the entire city. “It is also necessary to emphasise the preparation of local plans for the different communities and neighbourhoods across the state,” Awomosu added.

    The Chief Executive Officer of an infrastructure development company, Noble Sovrano Limited, Mr. Olajide Dosunmu, who spoke on Planning for infrastructure in Lagos megacity, said the state government must realise that the status of a megacity required an all-inclusive growth.

    “Municipal infrastructure such as holistic transportation plan, Information Technology and recreation are extremely necessary for an all-inclusive growth,” he stated.

    Dosunmu charged the state government to develop wastewater treatment plants and ensure that they are efficiently utilised to achieve zero tolerance for environmental pollution from homes and industries.

  • Environmentalists advocate ban of polythene bags

    Some environmentalists  have called on the government to ban the use of polythene bags to safeguard the environment and health of citizens.

    The environmentalists made the call in interviews with reporters in Lagos, while advocating for the use of biodegradable products as an environmentally-friendly solution to polythene bags.

    According to the experts, polythene bags are non-biodegradable and it takes about 400 years to decompose.

    An ecologist and co-founder of Clean Edge Limited, Mr. Temitope Ogunweide, said the continued use of plastic bags could be dangerous to the environment.

    “We see a lot of activities carried out with the use of plastic bags; there is also need to consider the negative impact they have on the environment. When people go to shopping malls, they use plastic bags to pack the items because of convenience. This trend has become part of us but the convenience of these bags come at a very high cost to the environment and health,” he said.

    Ogunweide urged Nigeria to emulate countries like China, France, Italy and Rwanda in ban of plastic as he highlighted the negative impact of plastic on marine life. “Most of these bags end up in the bottom of the oceans because they are petroleum based band and they do not degrade.

    “Currently there are approximately between 46,000 and 1,000,000 plastic fragments floating within every square mile of the globes’ oceans. The huge amount of plastics in the ocean has a side effect on the marine life such as sea turtles and fish,” he said.

    The expert said recycling of plastic in Nigeria had not been effective, calling for the effective recycling of plastics waste.

    “We have had many people advocating for recycling of plastics but most recycling plants do not have the capacity to recycle plastics in Nigeria. But we must consider the effect of plastic products on our health, plastic bags contain some pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyl and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are hormone disrupting. It can lead to cancer in humans or some other serious health challenges,” Ogunweide said.

    An environmentalist, Mrs. Candida Nworah, called for the gradual ban of plastic bags despite its negative effect. She said although the ban was necessary, it should follow a gradual process.

    According to her, the process of banning plastic goes beyond a one-year timeline, adding that it may take some years to complete the process. Plastic, she warned, is dangerous because it is non-biodegradable, adding that some plastics manufactured centuries ago are still in existence, while more are still being produced.

    Nworah called for the sensitisation of Nigerians on the health implication of plastic bags and products as well a provision of an alternative to plastic products before the ban.

    “We need to educate people at the grassroots and also at the top echelon of society on the non-biodegradable nature of plastic and also create an alternative before the ban,” she submitted.