Category: Property

The Amari, a real estate development company in Lagos, renowned for its commitment to luxury and innovation, has officially announced its strategic expansion into Abuja.

This move, initiated by the company in the last quarter of 2022, was aimed at bringing the company’s signature blend of sophistication and excellence to the thriving real estate market of Abuja, while offering discerning investors and residents unparalleled opportunities for upscale living.

The Amari’s entry into Abuja marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory. As a leading developer with an impressive portfolio of successful projects, The Amari is bringing extensive experience and a strong track record to the Northern market. 

The company’s unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional quality, unique architectural designs, and meticulous attention to detail sets it apart as a premium choice for discerning homebuyers and investors.

CEO of The Amari, Wale Olayanju, in a statement, shared insights on the company’s bold move into the Abuja Property market.

According to him: “We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter in The Amari’s journey with our expansion into Abuja. The city’s dynamic real estate market and its tremendous potential align perfectly with our vision of delivering unmatched luxury and innovation. We are committed to setting new standards of excellence in the industry.

“The launch of The Amari Terraces, Kaura and The Amari Apartments in Durumi, Abuja represents a significant milestone for our company. These projects showcase our unwavering commitment to creating exceptional living spaces that seamlessly blend aesthetics, functionality, and comfort. 

“The decision to expand operations to Abuja underscores our commitment to supporting growth and development across the nation. Recognizing Abuja’s status as a hub of economic and cultural significance, we aim to contribute to the city’s real estate landscape by offering world-class properties that elevate the standard of living. 

“The company’s investment in Abuja reflects its confidence in the city’s potential for sustainable growth and its unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional value to investors and residents alike.”

The Head of Marketing, Paul George also commented on the two projects. He said:“We are proud to introduce our two exceptional real estate developments in Abuja. The first, “The Amari Terraces,” is an exclusive collection of five units of four-bedroom luxury terrace duplexes nestled in the prestigious Kaura District. These exquisite residences showcase the perfect harmony between contemporary aesthetics and functional design, providing residents with an unparalleled living experience. The Amari Terraces boast spacious interiors, high-end finishes, lush green surroundings, and state-of-the-art amenities to cater to the discerning tastes of Abuja’s elite.

“The second project, The Amari Apartments is located in Durumi, Abuja, and presents a block of impeccably designed 2 and 3-bedroom apartments. These modern and stylish homes offer a blend of comfort, convenience, and affordability. With meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful layouts, The Amari Apartments will provide residents with an urban oasis in the heart of Abuja. Residents will enjoy a range of amenities, including a play area for kids, landscaped gardens, and 24-hour security, ensuring a safe and luxurious living environment.”

• Arraigns 30 culprits

By : Lydia Raji

The enforcement unit of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has dislodged scavengers and miscreants from illegal dumpsites in the city, for a cleaner and healthier environment.

In the past few days, the LAWMA enforcement team has been patrolling neighbourhoods notorious for illegal refuse dumping and scavengers rummaging through waste piles, contributing to littering, unsightly landscapes and public spaces.

The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, expressed concern over residents’ disregard for proper waste management practices, stressing the importance of prompt payment for waste services, and the negative consequences of indiscriminate disposal.

He said: “The activities of scavengers and miscreants not only deface our cities but also pose serious health hazards to residents. It is disheartening to see some individuals engaging in indiscriminate disposal because they do not want to pay for waste services. This behaviour undermines the efforts of LAWMA and hampers our progress towards maintaining a clean and healthy environment.”

During the operation, the LAWMA team dismantled shanties and illegal structures, apprehended individuals engaging in indiscriminate waste disposal, at various locations in Ipaja, Ikate-Surulere, and Ikeja. The team will prosecute  the 30 culprits that were caught.

“To achieve a cleaner and healthier city, it is crucial for residents to play their part in waste management. LAWMA, through PSP operators, is working relentlessly to ensure efficient waste collection services, and we urge residents to take advantage of these services. By properly sorting and disposing of waste, we can establish a better quality of life for everyone,” he stressed.

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has urged the Federal Government to value and utilise abandoned assets.

It made the call at the second  International Valuation Day tagged “Valuation: Key to decision making for asset and resource optimisation”.

It was organised by the institution’s Lagos State branch.

The day was aimed at creating awareness on the core competencies of estate surveyors and valuers.

The branch Chairman, Mrs. Olabisi Demola-Alade, said it was disheartening that in this 21st Century people still engaged quacks to carry out valuation of assets and properties, an important requirement for mortgage, insurance and some other crucial financial and economic decisions.

Demola-Alade said: “Encroachment by non-estate surveyors and valuers into valuation and their engagement by individuals and organisations is an assault and infringement on the Act of the National Assembly. The Council of the institution has been, and shall continue to respond promptly, appropriately and accordingly to all kinds of assault against our core competencies. No stone will be left unturned in defending and protecting our profession and heritage.”

Mrs. Demola-Alade said the Lagos branch would complement by deepening the awareness of their services and responsibilities.

“In line with the advocacy drive of The Council of the institution, we shall continue to draw the attention of the government and the public to these issues, with a plea to do the right things, because either we are willing to accept it or not, real estate is the main driver of the economy. the public that only the members of the NIESV are trained and accredited by the enabling law, Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) Act Decree No 24 of 1975 (Now CAP E13LFN 2004), to carry out valuation of assets in Nigeria. We possess the professional competence for valuation. We are the only professionals that have the appropriate recommendation to carry out valuation and other real estate matters,” she said.

A member of the institution, Mr. Tiwalade Adegbiji, said when such assets were appropriately valued and utilised, it would be easy for the government to realise equitable revenue from them.

He advised the government to deploy estate professionals to carry out the valuation.

Lagos is Nigeria’s most populous city with a growth rate of about 11 per cent yearly, three times that of the country. The state occupies about 3,577km2 with about 787km2 or 22 per cent covered by the lagoon and other water bodies. Metropolitan Lagos is classified as the world’s fastest-growing city with a population of about 22 million. The United Nations projects that Lagos will likely be the third most populated city by 2030, with a projected population of about 30 million. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE writes on the need for the state to have a viable urban development policy to tackle its challenges.

The main objectives of the proposed Lagos State Urban Development Policy are to prepare and reposition the state for  development. 

  The Lagos urban space is suffering many challenges such as deterioration of quality of life, and inadequate basic facilities.

Others are the prevalence of poverty, proliferation of slums, unemployment, seasonal flooding, and increased crime.

Experts said sustainable development could not be achieved without a pragmatic, conscious and significant transformation of cities.

These gave impetus to a viable Urban Development Policy to tackle the urban challenges.

The Nation learnt that the objectives of the proposed Lagos State Urban Development Policy are in tandem with the development goals and THEMES Agenda of the administration.

In July 2021, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the preparation of the Lagos State Urban Development Policy with a 30-year timeline.

At the agenda-setting workshop, for presentation of the Lagos State Urban Development Policy (LSUDP) 2023-2053 (30 years), held recently, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, said when in place,  the policy would set agenda not only for Lagos, but also the  country.

Bamgbose-Martins said the urban development policy would complement other initiatives of the administration to revamp the physical planning sector and birth a 21st Century Lagos economy.

He added that the policy would set the right tone for the development of the state, taking cognisance of planning indexes.

“Through this workshop, experts in the various fields are expected to give critical input to enrich the final outcome that we all can own.”

Former President, Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Toyin Ayinde, called for a larger stakeholders’ involvement because of the cultural peculiarity of Nigerians who remained individualistic in land allocations, designs and layouts, resulting in scattered, discordant constructions. He canvassed a process that would produce an enduring policy, comparable to what obtained in other climes.

Others, who spoke at the event, were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluwole Sotire, an engineer; the Chairman, NITP, Lagos State, Tayo Awomosu, and National Chairman, Women in Town Planning, Riskat Bello.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Gbolahan Toriola, an engineer; the General Manager, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, Ms. Ajibike Shomade; the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, and the General Manager, Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority, Daisi Oso were also there.

Earlier, the Chairman, Technical Committee on the Preparation of the Lagos State Urban Development Policy, Adekunle Salami, said preparing the urban development blueprint for the state began in July 2021, with the approval of Sanwo-Olu.

“We have since covered many grounds, including the review of the United Nations Habitat’s concept note on the Lagos State Urban Development Policy, stakeholders engagement and advocacy, baseline assessment visits and requests for memoranda as well as the review of same, among others,” he said.

“The Lagos State Urban Development Policy, when fully in place, will complement other notable initiatives of this administration to revamp the physical planning sector in Lagos State and birth a 21st Century Lagos economy.”

He said the urban policy would help to determine what to expect from a master plan for effective space distribution and management.

He said: “Only 22 memoranda received by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Development were not good enough and expressed hope for more submissions.”

Salami gave the background of the project, saying the process started in 2021. He called for collaboration towards achieving the blueprint that would give direction for the next 30 years.

Project Director, Arctic Infrastructure, contractors on the project, Mr. Lookman Oshodi, said the policy was late in coming.

Oshodi said 75 per cent of the Lagos city settlement was within the informal setting with only 25 per cent  capturing the formal sector, hence, the need for inclusiveness in planning.

He added that a simple and realistic policy was important for effective  implementation.

According to him, the vision of the Lagos Urban Development Policy is to ensure sound legal foundation, capable institutions and financial instruments to design and build a sustainable as well as a resilient participatory and inclusive Lagos.

Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City, also known as Centenary City, was envisioned by the Enugu State Government (ENSG) and Private Estates International West Africa Limited (“PEIWA”) as a response to the severe housing shortage in Enugu State. It is a model city that would expand Enugu City, projecting it as the city to live in and ultimately boosting the revenue drive and improving the infrastructure of the State.  

To bring this dream to fruition, the State Government entered into a public-private partnership with PEIWA under the New Township Development Agreement (“NTDA”). PEIWA was to develop the City on an expanse of land covering approximately 1,097 hectares situated at Obeagu/Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu Local Government Area, Enugu State

The agreement required PEIWA to provide technical planning and raise the necessary finance for the project, while ENSG was to provide Governor’s Consent and do all things within its powers to ensure the smooth completion of the project.

The Centenary City Project is a massive capital-intensive project aimed at transforming the state into a modern and vibrant economic hub. Designed around the style and comfort offered by the most advanced European cities whilst retaining broad African influences, the Enugu Lifestyle & Golf City is expected to be the best place in Nigeria to live, work, learn, play and shop. 

Read Also: ‘There will be paradigm shift in Enugu’

The structures and infrastructure were constructed with cutting-edge and cost-effective technology that accentuates finesse and sustainability. It is a city with efficient management and strict design and development standards that altogether ensure that consistent superior quality is delivered as the City evolves. 

The features of the city include a golf course, green parks, schools, hospitals, recreation areas, state-of-the-art electronic security systems, a water treatment plant, street lighting, a wireless network, shopping malls, roads, drains, walkways etc. Most important of all, the Land Use Plan for the project specifically provides for the Commercial and Residential areas, the low and high-density communities detailing the house types allowed in the different communities.

PEIWA lived up to its end of the agreement by raising billions of Naira from Access Bank (formerly Diamond Bank) and via equity finance to finance the project. However, the project faced a major setback in November 2019 when the newly appointed Commissioner of Lands, illegally revoked PEIWA’s right of occupancy over the land.

This reckless and irresponsible action by the Commissioner of Lands would have almost scuttled the project if not for the prompt action taken by PEIWA to secure a court injunction stopping the illegality from taking effect. The Enugu State Government, in its bid to encourage private investors and promote economic development in the state, intervened and reversed the action of the Commissioner of Lands and has taken actions to provide the necessary support to ensure the project is achieved as planned.

A cartel of land grabbers took advantage of the situation and invaded the project. These individuals sold off the land to third-party buyers and erected buildings indiscriminately without regard to the City’s master plan. The buyers were repeatedly warned not to buy or build in the Centenary City via newspaper publications and other various communication channels.

During the early stage of the construction of these buildings, the Enugu State Capital Development Authority marked them as illegal constructions as they were being constructed without approvals and title documents.  However, the cartels continued their activities – building on drainage channels, designated green areas, and even on the golf course.

The government has therefore taken steps to correct the wrongs done by these cartels and ensure the restoration of the original master plan of the Centenary City Project. The government is committed to fighting against recklessness and irresponsibility and ensuring that the state’s economic development is not hindered by lawless individuals trying to blackmail the government.

It is imperative to check impunity and recklessness amongst people who acquire land illegally and go ahead to develop such land even when they know there is subsisting order from a court of competent jurisdiction. 

Recently, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) jointly removed 13 buildings in Ajao estate, Isolo, for lacking approvals and permits and contravention of the state building laws. The buildings were also said to constitute security issues to the Muritala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, and were situated along a gas pipeline. In addition, the buildings were erected on the airport lands acquired by the Federal Government for the expansion of the international airport. The authorities engaged owners of the buildings and served notices on them before the commencement of the removal.

In the case of Enugu Centenary City, information available to the public shows that court orders barring those individuals from the building existed. Some of them were served direct court orders to stop building, and they still proceeded – which is pure recklessness and impunity. They defied court orders and built without approval, permits and consideration for extant building guidelines and standards for development in the new city — distorting the city master plan and converting the city to a slum. 

Interestingly, when the government moves in to restore order and enforce development codes, these reckless and very selfish individuals will resort to cheap blackmail. 

As a people, we must make a choice to root out impunity and the culture of “anyhowness” that has permeated almost every facet of our existence. Impunity and recklessness subsist because those who benefit from it believe they can get away with it. They trust that their cheap blackmail will elicit pity from the general public. This is not how to develop a sane society.

The Centenary City Project is an important project that will help transform Enugu State into a modern and vibrant economic hub. The government is determined to ensure the project’s timely and smooth completion and will not allow the reckless and irresponsible actions of a few individuals to hinder the state’s progress.