The Nation Newspaper

Tag: City project

  • We’ll link inner roads to city project, says Ambode

    We’ll link inner roads to city project, says Ambode

    The Lagos State Government, on Friday disclosed  plans to link inner roads in the state to the Lagos Smart City Project.

    The state government also expressed its readiness to commence instal Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras across the state in October.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who disclosed this in Coker Aguda area of the state at the commissioning of some of the 114 roads, newly constructed in the 20 Local Government Areas (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), said Government will complement the project with strategic security management driven by technology.

    The  Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Olufemi Odubiyi at the commissioning of 500meters Bolaji Banwo Street in Coker Aguda LCDA, said security remained one of the cardinal objectives of his administration, and that technology will play a key role in securing residents.

    Also in Coker Aguda LCDA, Governor Ambode commissioned 580meters Opere Street through a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Surulere Constituency 1, Desmond Elliot.

    Speaking to journalists, the Governor said: “One of the cardinal areas in which we focus on is security in the State and we have realised that the man policing we have in Lagos is not sufficient if you look at the ratio of the policemen that we have to the citizens of the State.

    “We have come up with an initiative which is an ongoing project and it is called the Smart City Project. In the area of security, we are going to be deploying CCTV Cameras to ensure that when you are sleeping, you have a guaranty that you are being watched.

    “The present administration is interested in making sure that this city is safe and technology is one of the areas we are looking at by deploying CCTV Cameras which will be linked to our Command and Control Centre in Alausa. We are going to have an eye over Lagos and this is because of the importance this government is paying to security of lives and property,” he said.

    At the handover of Otolu and Ojuoto/Ajegunle streets in Lekki LCDA, Governor Ambode said good road network remains a veritable tool for economic prosperity of any community especially the Lekki Free Trade Zone, just as he assured investors of friendly business climate.

    The Governor who was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Transportation, Mr Fatai Mojeed and a House of Representatives member, Mr. Gbenga Ashafa, said Lekki community would soon be the greatest generator of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for Lagos State with a call on residents to pay their taxes promptly for more dividends of democracy.

    At the handover of Borno Way, Ebute-Meta in Lagos Mainland LG, the Governor represented by the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Mr. Tunji Bello, cautioned against arbitrary cutting of roads and vandalism.

    He said the government will not take vandalism of public infrastructure lightly, tasking community leaders in the areas where the new roads were built to take custody of the roads.

    The Governor also commissioned Oloto Road, Ebute-Metta also in Lagos Mainland LG and was represented by Mr Alade Adebayo.

    In Badagry LG, Governor Ambode who inaugurated Hunwi Tande Road, Ajara and Hundeyin Street where he was represented by his Special Advisers on Environment, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe and Transport, Prince Anofi Elegushi said his administration would not neglect any community within the state.

    In Oto-Awori LCDA, the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, at the inauguration of Babalola Ilogbo Okeagbo Road, said his administration will continue to carry out people-oriented projects to make life more comfortable for Lagosians.

    Governor Ambode also inaugurated Goriola Oseni Street and Mosafejo/Ilufe Road in Ojo LG, and was represented by Mr. Ebenezer Kuponu of the Ojo Community Development Council (CDC) and Prince Rabiu Adio-Oluwa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Kayode Street and Odebiyi/Dosumu Street, both in Ifako-Ijaiye LG were commissioned by a member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Rasheed Makinde and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Hon. Adeyemi Olabinjo as representatives of the Governor.

    Alhaji Idowu, Jolaosho and Balogun Oyebisi link roads in Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.were also commissioned on Friday.

    Speaking at the commissioning of Alhaji Idowu Street, the Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Princess Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said:” It is a Lagos with 56.1 kilometres of standard new roads. It is a Lagos with more than 112 kilometres of walkways and covered drainages. It is, indeed, a new Lagos with more than 56 kilometres of independently-powered streetlights to enhance the security of our neighborhoods and elevate Lagos as the megacity of shimmering lights and economy. It is our Lagos”.

    While commissioning Jolaosho and Balogun Oyebisi roads in the Iyana Ipaja area of Alimosho, the governor, who was represented by the Senator representing Lagos West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola said: ‘‘No administration in Lagos State has ever built 114 roads within one year in office.Not only that, the roads we are commissioning today were built with street lights powered by generators and this confirmed that Lagos is number one pacesetting state in the country.

    ‘’I want to thank the Jagaban of Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring that Lagos is administered by the right persons since he left office as governor many years ago.’’

  • Ejigbo residents hail proposed model city project

    Residents of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have hailed the Lagos State government for its conception of the Oshodi-Isolo Model City Plan project.

    They said when realised, it would turn Oshodi, Isolo and Ejigbo into a vibrant, smart city.

    The residents urged Lagosians to support Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s administration in its efforts to transform the state.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum held at Lafenwa Community Hall, the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area, Michael Adegoke, said the ongoing projects showed that the government was doing its best and deserved people’s support.

    In his remark, the Sole Administrator, Ibrahim Adigun said with the project, the area would be transformed into a model city where people will enjoy safe and decent life, among other benefits.

    The Oshodi-Isolo Model City Plan project is an initiative of the government through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

    A representative of the contractor, Vistaplan Consulting, said the project’s preparation stage is nine months, while its lifespan is 20 years.

  • Understanding the Centenary City project

    Understanding the Centenary City project

    There have been several media comments on the Centenary City Project and we have deliberately refrained from responding to most of them. The reason is quite simple: some are outrightly mischievous, uninformed or speculative, while others, in countering the mischief, sought to advance public discourse. With both sides of he debate out in the public domain, our view was that truth would emerge in the course of the exchanges. But because many of the commentators are  motivated by genuine patriotism and desire to place all the cards on the table, so that Nigerians would be better guided in their perceptions of, and comments, the management of  Centenary City management has a duty to clarify the issues. One of the more sober comments came via a well-meaning editorial comment in Thisday newspaper of Monday, July 6, 2015. Our Board of Directors, led by General (rtd.) Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, GCFR, is convinced that what is at stake is of great important to our country and has urged management to respond only to informed and purposeful comments in the media. The Editorial under reference, and others like it, calls for information of the status of the project and the rights of original inhabitants, among others. Such interventions do not set out to undermine the project and thus damage the economic visibility of Nigeria as a favoured FDI destination.

    I shall attempt to straighten the records in this response and give some details about the project and its development so far. The newspaper’s call on Nigerians to exercise the necessary vigilance, so that we get the best of this Centenary Legacy Project, which was initiated as part of the programmes and activities for Nigeria’s Centenary Celebration in 2014, is very apt. The Project set out to focus the attention of the investing world on Nigeria and trigger investment opportunities, the way cities like Dubai (UAE), Monaco (France), Shenzhen (China), Singapore (Singapore) and Songdo (South Korea); impacted the development of their respective nations.

    Following the Concept Document for the City, an Investors Forum was held on the 5th of February 2013, after the successful flag-off of Nigeria’s Centenary Celebration the previous day by President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR. The Forum attracted one hundred and twenty four (124) potential investors and other professionals representing eleven (11) countries. At the end of the Investment Forum, twenty-nine (29) potential investors from nine countries (including Nigeria) expressed interest as “Promoter Investors”. To further expand the opportunities, advertorials were later placed in three (3) national newspapers, to enable those who did not have the opportunity to register their interest and commitment at the Investors Forum to express similar interest as Promoter Investors.

    A meeting of interested parties was later called, where it was resolved that: (1) a company to promote the Centenary City be formed with potential investors as its Promoters; (2) Equity Call in the Company would be a minimum of US$250,000 and a maximum of US$5 Million (to forestall the possibility of any particular investor having overwhelming majority); (3)  subscribers of up to US$5 Million were to constitute the Board and appoint a Chairman that may or may not be a subscriber; (4) the Company would be a Public Limited Liability Company whose stock would be quoted in both local and international stock exchanges in due course and (5)the Legal Adviser and Financial Advisers were to be appointed by the Promoters, to perfect the decisions reached in the meeting.

    The Promoter Investors who confirmed their interest and commitment met on March 1, 2013 and agreed to appoint a Legal Adviser to incorporate the Company. They also agreed on the appointment of a Consulting Firm to work with the Legal Adviser to: (1) work out the Share Structure and Corporate Governance Framework of the Company (2) conduct Feasibility Studies for the Centenary City and (3) consider the Concept Master Plan for the Centenary City, in addition to any other business that may arose therefrom. The competitive presentations from invited professional firms at the above meeting led to the emergence of Sterling Partnership Legal Practitioners (“Sterling Partnership”) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) as Legal Adviser and Financial Advisers, respectively. They were to finalize the Company Registration, Share Structure and Corporate Governance Framework. The Capital Call of US$5,000,000 (maximum) and US$250,000 (minimum) was also restated at the meeting.

    On 25th of March, 2013, another meeting of Promoter Investors was held, to re-confirm Capital Call commitments and to deliberate on key issues to be included in the Shareholders Agreement. A draft discussion table provided at the meeting enabled Promoter Investors to discuss a number of issues from the Legal and Financial Advisers. The major milestones achieved within the intervening period (4th February 2013 to 19th May, 2015), include the registration of Centenary City Plc. with an authorized share capital of One Billion Naira by Registered Nominees of Sterling Partnership (First Limited and Basic Start Limited) with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) pending the finalisation of the Shareholders Agreement and the distribution of Shares to subscribing Promoter Investors. The Company also received Capital commitments in excess of US$80,000,000 from forty (40) private sector Nigerian, UAE and USA Promoter Investors. The Board of Directors was elected and inaugurated, with General (rtd) Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, GCFR as Chairman; thus making Centenary City Plc. a 100% privately owned public limited liability company. The senior management reports to the Board and functions in accordance with the provisions of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

    We have also since negotiated and executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eagle Hills International Properties LLC (“Eagle Hills”), a UAE-government supported company based in Abu Dhabi, for 100% development of the Centenary City site at a development cost of US$18 Billion. This represents the single largest private Foreign Direct investment (FDI) in the history of Nigeria, with the capacity to create over 250,000 well-paying permanent jobs. Management and the Federal Capital Development Authority (“FCDA”) also delineated the Final Boundaries and Coordinates for Centenary City site and negotiated a modified Land Swap Agreement with the Federal Capital City Administration (“FCTA”). The Certificate of Occupancy is for 1,267 hectares of land issued to Centenary City Plc., with the FCTA holding a 5% Equity interest and a Board Seat.

    Knowing the controversies that often trail land compensation in Nigeria, management worked closely with the FCDA and concluded the evaluation and payment of approximately N1,234,747,077 in compensation for Economic Trees and Crops to the Original Inhabitants and other Private Property interests at the site. This is in addition to the on-going construction of 671 houses and engineering infrastructure, at a cost estimate of about N6,000,000,000 to resettle the Original Inhabitants. The cost is to be borne by the Company.

    With the supervision of the FCDA, a 330 KVA High Tension Transmission Line crossing the Project site was relocated, at a cost of N984,462,583. The Company also completed a Master Plan, which has undergone four intensive Clarification Workshops with the FCDA, to make sure it meets the requirements of the Abuja Master Plan (sequel to a Final Engineering Master Plan), at a cost of N486,900,000. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Project has received an Initial Approval from the Federal Ministry of Environment (“FMEnv”) and we have helped Eagle Hills to construct the Access Road to their well-designed Showroom and Sales Center, at the Project site on Airport Road, Abuja at a cost of N110,000,000.

    Centenary City Plc., at the request of (and in conjunction with) Eagle Hills, sought various incentives as Success Factors for the proposed Centenary City, such as Free Trade Zone. An application to the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) for the declaration of Centenary City as a Free Zone followed due process and met the requirements for a free zone. Mr. President’s approval was subsequently conveyed, making Centenary City site a Free Zone to be known as “Centenary Economic City” (CEC). It is one of four (4) free zones approved by Mr. President in 2014 including the Eko Atlantic City Free Zone in Lagos.

    On June 24th, 2014, in the company of the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, and Chairperson of Eagle Hills, Sheikh Mohammed Alabbar, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, performed the official Groundbreaking Ceremony and Unveiling of the Centenary City. This was broadcast live on the international network of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). On December 2nd and 3rd 2014, Eagle Hills began clearing the Project site. It also officially launched the first project on site – The Address Villas & Apartments, which quickly sold out. It is a matter of record that no other Free Zone in Nigeria has attracted a better-financed foreign investor, nor achieved a faster movement to site, with over 150 well-paying permanent jobs already created!

    On May 19th 2015, Centenary City Plc. held its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) to, among others, (1) verify deposits/contributions made by the Promoter Investors for Shares, (2) inaugurate its Statutory Audit Committee, (3) consider the 2013 and 2014 Audited Financial Statements by Akintola Williams Deloitte; and (4) approve the Shareholders Agreement; all of which would be updated shortly with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    Let us note for the record that the major local and international drivers of Centenary City Plc. have been involved in private and public markets for more than 300 years. Their corporate governance and public-private company management credentials are impeccable. Thisday‘s concern regarding the fortunes of the Original Inhabitants of the site is already addressed in a two-pronged compensation package that covers payment for (1) crops/economic trees and (2) resettlement. Thisday may wish to confirm that no allegations of wrongdoing have been leveled against the Company or its Promoters by any government or regulatory agency anywhere in the world. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which has ranked Nigeria as the number one country for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, is being proven right by with the Centenary City Project.

    The foregoing is the full story of The Centenary City Project, which is a worthy legacy of our attainment of 100 years as one nation. We are convinced that the economic visibility of Nigeria as a favoured FDI destination is guaranteed by this Project. I urge the reading public to disregard the mischievous insinuations of those who fail to adopt the mature and nationalistic thrust of Thisday and who also do not investigate, educate, and inform themselves on the details of the Centenary City, so that their comments will improve national discourse.

     

    • Dr. Odenigwe is a Managing Director, Centenary City Plc

  • Amaechi: Greater P’Harcourt City project on course

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded by the Greater Port Harcourt City project, describing it as a reality.

    Speaking after receiving the authority’s end-of-term project report (May 2009 – May 2013) in Port Harcourt, the governor commended the Board of Directors for ensuring proper functioning of the organisation and implementation of the projects with a human face.

    Amaechi, who was represented by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Mr George Feyii, said: “We are happy for the development so far, and despite all the issues involved, you ensured proper functioning of the authority and implementation of the project which you also made efforts to put in place.

    “We want to emphasiSe the point that, the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority is a reality and there is no doubt that the project is on-going. The project has gone to a point where it is irreversible, even though some investors wonder if the project will go on when Governor Amaechi’s tenure of office comes to an end; there is no such doubt at all.”

    He said the report would be carefully studied and issues of importance would be addressed to ensure the organisation develop.

    He said: “It has been noted and observed that the pace of development in the new city have not been fast as expected because it takes a lot to plan and we appreciate the fact that, so much time has been put into the project to ensure effective planning that will guarantee success.

    “We believe that every necessary step has been taken to ensure that proper planning have been done, and we expect it to be smoother than it has been and we very much appreciate that.”

    The governor said the submission of the three years (2009 – 2011) audited financial report was a clear demonstration of the actualisation of his vision, which places priority on accountability and transparency, in every public institution.

    He urged investors to use the opportunity and engage in Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Rivers State government to drive the new city project to its expected destination.

    Board Chairman of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba recalled the commitment of the governor when he assumed office in October 2007 to renew the urban decay, over stressed and degraded infrastructure, unsightly living conditions, the dysfunctional utilities, traffic congestion, breach of planning regulations and inadequate recreational facilities that were never given concrete measures.

    “As the pioneer Board of the new authority, we stated everything from scratch, putting in place the necessary institutional framework for effective take-off and smooth running of the authority, while at the same time ensuring that adequate planning and design of the infrastructural facilities to international standards become our primary focus,” Alabraba said.