Residents of 14 Anipele Street, Olorunsogo in Mushin, Lagos, yesterday, were thrown into chaos as their house went in flames.
It was gathered that most of the occupants of the one-storey building had gone for their daily activities when the incident happened.
The fire, The Nation learnt, was caused by electric sparks.
An eyewitness, simply called Kola, said there was a loud noise when the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) brought light.
“It was around 4pm they brought the light; the next thing we saw was fire on the roof. We called the fire fighters but before they got to the scene, the building was gone. I am glad the first floor were not occupied by tenants if not they would have been counting their loss,” he said.
An occupant, Bisola Alabi, said since the demise of the landlord, they haven’t put the place on rent, adding: “The landlord’s children just have their monthly meeting on the first floor. They don’t live here. Just few occupants downstairs will need to worry over new accommodation.”
A resident, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that no property was lost to the fire.
He said: “I did not lose any property, but can’t stay here again because it may collapse any moment from now. My children just returned from school to meet this. We don’t know where to move to”.
The President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Tijani Shuaib, has decried the non-passage of the National Building Code (NBC) draft bill sent to the National Assembly (NASS), since 2006.
“It is quite unfortunate, that since 2006 that the draft bill of the National Building Code (NBC) was sent by the Executive to the National Assembly (NASS), not much had been done by the body to pass the bill. This development has continued to be a source of concern for the seven professional bodies in the built environment,” he told The Nation.
Shuaib, however, disclosed that the NIOB and the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) have commenced fresh moves to actualise the passage of the Bill. This, he said, involves impressing it on the relevant authorities and top government officials, the importance of the bill hence, the need for it to see the light of day.
The NBC draft bill has undergone the second reading, and awaiting the third reading before being committed to the committee stage.
Expressing optimism that the Senate would expedite action on the bill, Shuaib said the early passage of the NBC would help in sanitising the construction industry.For instance, it as it would serve as a document to regulate workings in the construction industry and also help to define the duties of all the seven professional bodies in the built environment to avoid the frequent conflict among them.
The NIOB helmsman regretted that the country has witnessed several building collapse in the last two years, a development he attributes to greed on the part of most developers and the use of sub-standard and inferior building materials. Most developers, he further explained, in a bid to maximise profit choose to cut corners, hence jeopardising the lives of the ordinary people. For instance, where a developer is supposed to use one bag of cement to produce 35 blocks, he would rather use same to produce 60 blocks. This development, no doubt, would be detrimental to the finished product.
Besides, Shuaib identified quackery in the sector to be in two folds – intra and extra quackery. Intra quackery, he explained, involves genuine professionals. For instance, if an architect whose job is to design a project goes ahead to supervise its construction after his drawing, even though he is not a trained builder. Likewise, he said, if a builder decides to evaluate the cost of a project when he is not a quantity surveyor, then he automatically becomes a quack because that is not his area of specialisation.
On the other hand, the extra quackery involves a non-professional who engages in the building process without any form of certification by a recognised professional body. This, he noted, is the worst form of quackery that is bedeviling all the professional bodies.
This development has led to the establishment of the Association of Presidents and Registrars of Built Environment Professionals (APRBEP), which tries to ensure compliance with guidelines for all the professional bodies in the built sector to avoid conflicts.
Also, developers, Shuaib said, should engage the services of professionals. “We as an institute would continue to canvass the use of genuine professionals in supervising on-going projects. There is the need for developers to use genuine and standard building materials for construction and finally anybody found culpable should be severely sanctioned,” he said, adding that in the last two years, no builder has been involved in any of the collapsed building that were witnessed in the country.
The STAR – System for Transformation and Result – methodology of measuring impact is a change process and a tool suite that seeks to promote sustainable organizational development. It also seeks to address elements of the complex environments in which Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) do their work. It is a programme developed by Root Change. Judging from lessons learnt from two decades of how CSOs do their work, the programme is what SACE – Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement – project uses to assess the impact of NGOs and CSOs in bringing about transparency, accountability and good governance. Central to achieving transparency and good governance is the question of the ability of CSOs to interrogate policy makers and ask hard but sensible questions. Are civil society groups better equipped now to deal with the civilian government now than they were in the days of the military? If not what then seems to be the impediment in constructively engaging our civilian government and what impedes their ability to help with formulating policies that are people-friendly? Why is it that civil society groups seem to be working at cross purposes with the media and the civilian government? How should CSOs build capacity, network and form alliances that put them at the front burner of national discourse. Are CSOs sharing their knowledge, or are they tiny clusters of islands with ideas that are marooned in a sea of opportunity? Twenty years from whence CSOs began to be the 5th Estate of the realm in Nigerian politics, what impact have they really made?
These were some of the questions that were to engage the minds of a distinguished audience put together at the Barcelona Hotel, Abuja on December 14. Under the Strengthening Advocacy and Civil Engagement, SACE, a project being implemented for the USAID by Chemonics, participants at an evening of discussion and conversation were to listen to three civil society icons well established in the fine art of civil engagement and advocacy: Clement Nwankwo, founding member of the Civil Liberties Organisation CLO, now executive director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, Hajia Saudatu Mahdi of Women’s’ Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, WRAPA, and Hon Igariwey Enwo, lawyer and politician and civil society advocate.
That evening, Clement Nwankwo told us that the CLO of 1987 was set up with only one motive – to drive the military from power, and install a civilian government. The tactics and the ground rules favoured the use of linguistics and brashness of trench warfare: ‘they’ were there at the other side and we were here on this other side. We threw verbal bombs at them and they replied and charged at us like rhinoceroses, picked up and jailed our leaders. At the extreme, they would have killed our leaders just the same way General Abacha did Ogoni leader Kenule Saro-Wiwa and thereby provoke an international outrage. At that time as well, those at the forefront of the call for the military to leave were lawyers. Their argument then was that leadership as proffered by the military was antediluvian and an anathema to the concept of transparency and good governance. It’s a merry crowd now, and the merriment is apparent with the crowd of CSOs in the fray. But soon after the military were out of the system, several issues began to crop up. Corruption became rife – rifer than what we had with the military. Some of us wonder if indeed some of the monies said to be stolen actually exist. In a Citizens Score Card report published by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ and Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment, LITE-Africa a few days ago in Benin City, more than 84 projects that were supposed to have been executed by the Niger Delta Institutions – DESOPADEC, EDSOGPADEC, Niger Delta Development Commission, the Ministry of the Niger Delta, OSOPADEC have been abandoned. Even the anti-corruption agencies set up to fight the massive cases of graft and corruption have been taken hostage by judicial, the executive and legislative shenanigans. Under the civilian governments from 1999, impunity, gross human rights abuses, poverty and underdevelopment have been institutionalized. And the questions were: what is to be the mode of engagement and advocacy for transparency and good governance in the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general? Should CLOs continue as if we are still under the gulag of the military irrespective of the flowing agbadas and babanrigas?
The one person who seemed to have developed an effective advocacy strategy and tactics in that hall that evening was Hajia Saudatu Mahdi coordinator, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, (WRAPA). Mahdi has helped to develop a national law on violence against women – the legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence against Women, passed in 2015. To achieve this, Mahdi said she developed her own set of rules. The first thing she did was understand the context of what she was fighting for – a fight on behalf of very vulnerable persons – teenagers being married off to very wealthy senators and politicians. Two she interacted with, and formed a strong alliance with three key stakeholders – the media, the policy makers and took in the counsel of very knowledgeable persons. She carried everybody along, not minding if it was a big NGO or a small one. ‘I had a woman problem but the key persons who helped in the fight were men’, she said. Mahdi also spent some money to ‘make noise’ – underscoring the fact that if you have courage and conviction, you were not to consider the policy makers as enemies. You would see them together with the media, as partners in progress.
But it was Otiveh Igbuzoh, executive director of African Centre for Leadership who nailed it at the end. He said that many CSOs still carry the mindset that the military is still in power. In trying to promote transparency, accountability, many CSOs are still in the trenches, hurling bombs and grenades at the civilian government. To strengthen the supply and demand chain, forge partnerships, sustain the dialogue, Otiveh believes that CSOs must collaborate with government as frenemies instead of seeing them as enemies.
Coming from the standpoint that we cannot still be doing things the same old-fashioned way, I had an axe to grind with the WRAPA coordinator. In today’s world, we no longer talk of gender empowerment. People are talking of gender mainstreaming – a situation where you fight for the rights of both sexes instead of focusing on feminine issues. Focusing only on fighting for the girl child or fighting women issues effectively checkmates whatever chances that the boy-child – the Almajiri or the boy-child in eastern Nigeria would ever have in a dynamic country like Nigeria. I also believe that had Clement Nwankwo known that the civilians who would take over from the military would be this less than accountable and transparent, perhaps we would not be where we are today.
Etemiku is of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Benin City
In line with its commitment to taming the growing army of unemployed youths, Bank of Industry (BoI) has kick-started a three-day capacity building entrepreneurship programme. The graduate entrepreneurship scheme, which is in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), will afford participants access to sizeable funding required for nurturing their business ideas to fruition.
BoI Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, who made this known in Lagos during the week, while flagging off the scheme, said the training will hold simultaneously in seven centres, including Katsina, Plateau, Taraba, Osun, Delta, Abia and Lagos states. He explained that the programme was conceived to encourage graduates to shift focus from job-seeking to job creation through generation of feasible business ideas capable of influencing the economy positively.
“We are doing this because we thought we need to find a way to encourage the youth corpers to begin to think of an alternative, to actually create the jobs that they are looking for and become employers of labour. We are really impressed by the quality of business ideas that we got and these are ideas in the real sectors.
“People want to do poultry; people want to set up a bakery, agro-processing, fabrication of poultry cages and others,” he said, adding that these are things that can really add value to the Nigerian economy. He said the bank was really pleased to have this crop of young Nigerians, who are determined to do things differently.
The BoI boss said the eligible 1,000 participants were selected from about 3,100 applicants, who enrolled for the programme on the BoI portal. He added that on completion of the training, participants with ability to vet plausible business concept will have access to base capital loan to actualise their business plans.
He said: “The key output for these three days training will be a business plan. After this training, each participant will have produced a plan. With that business plan, they can approach BoI to have access to the small business loans of up to N2 million. If this works we can actually recycle it and spread it to more and more people.”
On the sustainability of the scheme, he said though BoI is sponsoring the programme from its shareholders fund, the development bank will explore various possibilities to generate funding to facilitate it.
The NYSC Co-ordinator for Lagos State, Mr. Akhanemhe Cyril, while commending the efforts of BoI, urged corps members to avoid defaulting on the terms on which the loans will be granted, saying it is an avenue to achieve great goals.
“They are a chosen generation right now, the first set to utilise these loans. Nigeria depends on them not to fail and must not default. I’m sure that with the effort of BoI in selecting these people, they cannot default, he said, pointing out that a country cannot develop without the talent and ingenuity of its youths.
Ogun State government has collaborated with the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) to enforce relevant Acts on insurance of public buildings.
The state also stated its readiness to partner brokers in the area of disaster management and enforcement of Section 64 and 65 of Insurance Act 2003 on insurance of public buildings.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Adewale Oshinowo while receiving the NCRIB delegation to the State Secretariat, said the need to engage insurance professionals in risk management is pertinent.
He said: “In view of recent incessant building collapse and other forms of disasters across the nation, it is expedient for the state, which prides itself as the economic hub of the nation and its proximity to Lagos, to partner with brokers to win more investors mind.
“It is a known fact that Ogun is one of the most strategic states in Nigeria today, partly because of its proximity to Lagos which has remained the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria.
“Government could also be saved of unnecessary hassle of dolling out the meagerly acquired fund of the state to compensate victims of insurable disaster when insurance professionals could handle same at a very minimal cost.”
He enjoined brokers to think out of box and be more creative in their product development that would directly impact people’s lives.
NCRIB President, Kayode Okunoren, who led the delegation on the courtesy visit, applauded the state government under the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun for human and physical transformation which has been recorded in the state since he assumed office.
According to him, no country can have sustainable economic development by making insurance its last consideration. Funds from insurance constitute a large percentage of investible reserves of most progressive nations apart from guaranteeing peace of mind which is germane to progress, he said.
Okunoren regretted that the law on insurance of public buildings that was promulgated to protect citizens against losses is not being adhered to by most states.
He solicited for the support of the state in the area of compliance with law enforcement on public building and a disaster management through insurance.
Higher institutions students converged on the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, for a Future Impact Conference organised by a group, Reflector Team, to chart a course for the future. MARY SONUGA (100-Level English Language) reports.
It was tagged: Future impact conference and participants seemed determined to make great impacts on their future. Organised by Reflector Team, a group of students at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, the conference’s objective was to bring about national rebirth.
The event was attended by KOWA Party’s presidential candidate, Prof Remi Sonaiya; Managing Editor of Red Media Africa and Content Manager Y! Naija Mr Isime Esene; President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prof Remi Raji, and students’ leaders.
Speaking on the theme: Reshaping Nigeria: What can the youth do?, the convener, Adedapo Adeniruju, said the role of youths in reshaping the nation could not be quantified. Noting that young people built the first-world countries, Adedapo said Nigerian youths had no excuse for not using their innovation to improve the country’s condition.
He said youths must not sit idly and wait for the government to provide work for them. Rather, he said youngsters must be courageous and use their wisdom to redeem the country from the edge.
Sonaiya, a retired professor of French and Linguistics at OAU, apologised to the youth on behalf of the elite for what she called “mismanagement and corruption that has brought the nation to colossal mess”.
In lecture titled: Nigeria beyond 2015: Where do we go from here?, she explained that the problem of terrorism, poor work ethics, low productivity, dilapidated infrastructure, poverty and low participation of women in politics could be solved by supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war. She added that teaching of civic education and morality would nurture future leaders and help them to make good decision.
Esene urged members of the audience to acquire quality education, noting that it would bring about informed citizenry. He said: “Let us use the power of information to create the future of our country and not the dreams our fathers. We must not forget the past but it should not be the compass to walk into the future.”
•Some of the attendees of the conference.
The event featured a panel discussion, during which participants from the University of Ibadan (UI) and their OAU counterparts debated on quality of education, fee hike and how to solve corruption in higher institutions.
Highlight included the final round of Inter-Hall Debate contest held between Awolowo and Fajuyi halls titled: Students’ unionism and the future of Nigerian politics: A ray of hope or a cause for concern. Debaters from Fajuyi Hall emerged winners, while Ayansola Oluwaseun emerged the best debater.
The event was rounded off with prize presentation for the winners of Professor Remi Raji Writing Contest. Jesufemi Ayodele, an OAU student, emerged winner in essay category, while Sunday Danladi of UI won the poetry category.
While presenting the prizes, Prof Raji urged the students to be conscious of their future and engage themselves in activities geared towards re-birth of the country.
A participant, Pelumi Ayenumuro, described the event as life-transforming, saying: “It brought me into awareness of possibility of a new Nigeria and I am encouraged to prepare myself for it.”
Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the Director of the conference, Mr Kola Johnson, said: “We believe having a responsibility is to re-shape destiny. We believe today’s youths are tomorrow’s leaders. That is why we have invested time, efforts and resources in organising this event. When youths are rightly mentored, then they can be catalyst for social change.”
Isola Taiwo, a graduate of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), said if the conference could be held regularly in all campuses, students would be better equipped with skills that would make them to become true future leaders.
Determined to promote the growth and development of its affiliate branches and to further the spread of the Gospel as directed by Jesus Christ, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 10, Mulero, Orile-Agege, has dedicated eight church buildings within its provincial jurisdiction in Lagos and Ogun states.
The parishes and zones dedicated were Mighty God Parish and Joy Assembly at Denro Ojodu, Lagos; City of Grace Parish Ajuwon Ogun State; Restoration Parish Abule-Egba; Garden of Love Parish, Agege; Zion Chapel Oregun; Excellence Parish Magodo and Fruitful Vine Parish Ajah, Lagos.
The pastor in charge of Region 2, Pastor Joseph Obayemi led other men of God to unveil the plaque and cut the tape at the dedication ceremony.
Mighty God Parish Denro Ojodu, Lagos was the largest among the eight church buildings dedicated. It boasts over 500 sitting capacity.
The Pastor in charge of Lagos Province 10, Joseph Olagbadegun said the dedication of the church buildings would have been carried out before now, saying preparation for the last convention caused the shift in date.
He thanked Pastor Obayemi for working hard to ensure that the ceremony held.
In his sermon, Pastor Obayemi who quoted copiously from Psalm 127:1-2 said “except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman stays awake but in vain”.
If not for the grace and help of God, it would not have been possible to complete the buildings.
He said the essence of dedicating the buildings was to ensure expansion of the church which is one of the visions of RCCG to reach out to people.
Chairman of Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Yahaya Garba, has warned residents not building their houses by the riverside in order to avoid being washed away by flood.
He made the call while declaring open a two-day sensitisation and enlightenment campaign for residents and traditional rulers in the council.
He advised the residents not to farm around riversides and should also avoid dumping refuse in drainages in order to allow free flow of water during the rainy season.
He said his administration will continue to empower the environmental department of the council to always evacuate and clear drainages to avoid erosion. Earlier, the head of Environment in the council, Alhaji Yusuf Simbabi also charged the residents to comply with the laid down rules, by building according to plan and to ensure that they work in line with environmental standard to safe guard our houses.
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) will support Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections into the state’s 57 councils. The state has 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
At a meeting with LASIEC, the foundation’s representatives, Mrs Uloma Osuala and Mr Obaje Ukeh, said IFES was ready to hold a capacity building seminar for electoral officers and others on voter education. It will also develop manuals for the commission, design voter education materials and establish an election support centre to enable the commission monitor progress and development on the field on election day.
They hailed LASIEC for having a data base of ad-hoc staff it engaged in the last council election in the state.
Stressing the need for more effective collaboration between Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), the foundation called for the establishment of a functional secretariat for the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON), an umbrella body for the country’s 36 SIECs.
LASIEC Chairman Justice Abdul-Fatai Adeyinka said the delineation of wards and creation of additional polling units embarked upon by the commission were intended to deepen democracy and make it more inclusive for those at the grassroots.
IFES is a Washington–based international non-profit organisation founded to provide assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies.
