The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NIESV

  • ‘Care panacea to fire outbreaks’

    TO prevent occurrence of fire, Nigerians have been advised to be careful.

    Chairman, Faculty of Housing, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Chief Kola Akomolede gave the advice during an interview with The Nation.

    He identified causes of fire to include use of candle, kerosene lamp or stove, boiling rings, gas cooker and electrical spark, and storing of petrol in the house or bringing naked light near a petrol generator.

    “All these can be attributed to ignorance or carelessness.For example, if you lit a candle and put in on a wooden table or stand, when the candle is completely burnt down to the base, fire can result,” he warned.

    He said the most common fire outbreaks are caused by electrical spark as a result, usually as a result of either overloading the circuit or use of inferior cables or fuse wire of high melting point.

    He regretted that most electricians do not know the function of a fuse wire in the gear box.

    Others include gas leakage and bringing naked light to a room covered by insecticide.

    He cautioned that to prevent fire from electrical faults, electrical outlets like sockets should not be overloaded.

    Also, the use of qualified electrical engineers when building a house or doing a repair work in the house should be encouraged. Others include always turning off all electrical appliances when not in use even for a very short moment.

    These will include air-conditioners, fans, pressing iron, boiling ring or kettle, electric cooker, computers, television, radio.

    “Even when there is no light and you are going out, still check that all appliances are turned off, if possible remove the plugs from the sockets. This is necessary to prevent fire that may arise if PHCN should bring power while you are still away and there is a surge that is greater than your normal load,” he advised.

    Akomolede said gas cylinders should be checked regularly for leakages especially before striking a match, even as it is advisable to place gas cylinders outside the kitchen so that any leakage can flow into the air outside the house with less risk of fire.

    He advised that the amount of combustible materials should be reduced to the barest minimum in the house.

    “Do not use rug or rubber carpet, they aid fire to spread quickly. Leave your floor bare with tiles, marble, granite or terrazzo. A concrete decked ceiling will prevent fire catching the roof easily,” Akomolede said.

    He said it was important to have fire extinguishers in the house, adding that they should be in places where they can be assessed without any hindrance in case of fire. Also, they should be checked regularly to confirm that they have not expired.

    He advised the public to insure their houses and other properties.

  • How to beat quacks

    A state Surveyors and Valuers have been urged to go for continuous training to have an edge over charlatans.

    President of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Mr. Emeka Eleh said such trainings and re-trainings would expose them.

    Eneh, who spoke at the Lagos Chapter of the NIESV’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD), held at the Civic Centre, Lagos, said the trend of losing their jobs to quacks and others not qualified and certified was gaining ground, reminding members that they are a major stakeholders in Real Estate Development in Nigeria. He was the Special Guest of Honour at the event.

    He said acquiring knowledge, skills and new ideas were pivotal to attaining success in their practice, hence the topic for discourse was said to be apt and appropriate.

    He said: “I see a trend of decline fortune of our profession.  When I left school, members of the profession then were managing virtually all the tall buildings in the country.  At present, the project, property management field of our profession is being taken over by other professionals.

  • Estate agents form body, seek recognition

    To ensure a proper coordination of activities of estate agents and practice in the country, a new body, Association of Estate Agents of Nigeria (AEAN) has been inaugurated.

    The initiative, a promotion of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. (NIESV), is to enhance the professional knowledge of practitioners, thus making the property environment conducive and safe, while checking the activities of dubious agents.

    NIESV, according to a source, moved the idea of bringing all practicing agents together under one roof. The new association has been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and we are working towards presenting a bill to the National Assembly for recognition and charter,” the source said.

    He said three categories of membership of the association have been created and are open to all professionals and other interested Nigerians with a minimum qualification of ‘O’ Levels. The three categories are: Certified Estate Agents (CEA), Registered Estate Agents an Estate Brokers. The CEA category is strictly for NIESV members.

    Interim chairman of the association, Chudi Ubosi said:”Initially, we wanted to make registration free, but we have to fund an office and staff. That is why we have fixed N5,000 as an annual subscription fee to be registered as members.”

    He continued: “AEAN, though an independent body, will draw on its relationship with NIESV to ensure that members receive training, study materials and are tutored regularly on how to run an estate agency.”

    He said estate agents were seen as those who inflate house rents arbitrarily and exploit desperate prospective tenants.

  • Edo spends N160b on roads, drainage upgrade

    Edo spends N160b on roads, drainage upgrade

    The Edo State Government has spent N160 billion  to build new roads, rehabilitate old ones and upgrade its drainage.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole said he embarked on massive infrastructure development due to his belief that it is key to economic growth.

    He spoke at an event organised by the  Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors &Valuers (NIESV) in Benin.

    He also said his administration intended to invest in hydrocarbon for gas to power and fertiliser manufacturing in the state.

    On housing, the governor,  who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Stephen Ideheren, said the state has earmarked 1,500 hectares of land for massive housing production to make housing affordable to the low and medium income groups in the state.

    Oshiomhole also said his administration was set create a new Government Reserved Area  (GRA) with world-class facilities to bridge the gap in upscale housing. According to him, Geographic Information System (GIS) has been introduced for the public to access land information without hitches.

    This is in addition to rolling out a development plan for the state until 2020. The governor said his priority this year was to complete all projects, build low to middle income skill acquisition centres and also build capacity in the public service.

    Speaking on the sideline at the event, the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, harped on the importance of infrastructure development. He said no nation could develop without competitive infrastructure.

    He said the provision of infrastructure would not be complete if the human capacity was not developed to be at par with it.

    Anyim, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in his office, urged estate surveyors and valuers to imbibe ethics and morals in the discharge of their duties. He  also harped on the need for collaboration with the government  in her quest to bring down the prices of houses to make it affordable to the majority of the people.

  • NIESV to hold Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture Jan. 31

    Members of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) will hold the 19th John Wood Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture at the Civic Centre, Lagos on January 31.

    According to a statement, the lecture will provide the institution’s leadership an opportunity for self-evaluation and to address national development issues in the industry.

    Ekpenyong, in whose memory NIESV instituted the lecture in 1995, was the first Nigerian to qualify as a chartered surveyor/estate surveyor and valuer.

    NIESV’s President, Mr Emeka D. Eleh, will declare the lecture open while Mr Joseph O. A. Idudu will chair the event. Idudu, Chairman, NIESV’s Board of Trustees and the 11th President of the institution, is the immediate past Chairman of Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON).

    National Publicity Secretary of the institute,  Mr  Victor Ayeye, said Chairman, ESVARBON, Mr A. G Sangosanya, will deliver the main lecture entitled: ‘Honesty and devotion in Nigeria’s transformation agenda’.

     

  • el-Rufai urges professionals

    The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has admonished professionals to uphold the tenets of service for the nation to rely on their expertise and judgement.

    Speaking at the induction of new associates into the professional cadre of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) in Abuja, el-Rufai charged the inductees to ‘’ensure that  they distinguish themselves and always give clients value for money’.

    ’ Represented by an aide, Mr Martins Akumazi, said the problem with professionals is their disposition towards money rather than creating a niche for themselves by building a brand around integrity and professionalism.

    He urged them to be patient, dedicated to their professional callings and also to ensure they are always in tune with agreed principles of correct moral conduct. He also urged them to eschew anything pertaining to professional misconduct and dishonesty while carrying out their professional services.

    To the newly inducted Associates, he implored them to build their profession around good name which he said is more sustainable rather than money which will always follow any one that has the quality of integrity expressed by good name.

    He also enjoined them to be forthright in their dealings with clients and colleagues in their activities.

    In her keynote address at the ceremony, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Ms. Ama Pepple represented by Sir GTN Tanbasi, a  Deputy Director in the Ministry, challenged professionals to upgrade themselves and ensure they are on top of issues in their profession.

    He said as it is impossible for a nation to develop beyond the level of her educational attainment, so it for its citizens. She urged them to see themselves as important stakeholders in the quest for nation building.

    She said as real estate practitioners’, the nation looks up to them as those who would provide the solution to housing in Nigeria. She said now that their voice can be heard as professionals, they should not hesitate to make their input known as professional members of Estate surveyors and valuers.

    The ceremony, which took place at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja under the chairmanship of Mr A. G. Songosanya, the Chairman of Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board Of Nigeria (ESVARBON) attracted other professionals.

    NIESVPresident Mr Emeka Eleh who administered the oath of office and the induction assisted by members of his management committee, was enthusiastic that professionals have the wherewithal in terms of skill and competence to meet up with global standards when called upon to render their professional service.

  • Experts seek more training for estate surveyors

    Experts seek more training for estate surveyors

    •’Focus on aircraft, oil and gas installations’

    FOR surveyors estate and valuers to be relevant, they should embrace training in valuation and acquisitions, a past president and Fellow of the American Society of Appraisers, Mr Leslie H. Miles, has said.

    He spoke at the international seminar on plant and machinery organised by the Faculty of Plant and Machinery of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV) in Lagos.

    He said the opportunity offered by wealthy Nigerians who have high taste for private jets presents a unique chance for surveyors to put their training at the disposal of the society who are in need of it.

    He stressed that the profession is not only about the ‘letting agency’ , but that practitioners should step up to the more challenging and technical aspect of the profession which encompasses the valuation of aircraft , oil and gas installations.

    He said a surveyor could only be competitive with self-development in other areas to acquire the rudimentary knowledge they need to value such high value assets for clients.

    Miles, who is on the Faculty of the American Society of Appraisers Education Committee, encouraged networking with his colleagues to remain relevant.

    He also said in appraising an aircraft, the key knowledge needed include the year it was manufactured, model and what use the aircraft is put into.

    The questions to ask, he said, should also include, identifying if it is a cargo aircraft, special use airplane and an air plane kept in the museum as static display.

    According to him, the understanding of the specification of the item to appraise is of almost importance to arrive at a no controversial appraisal figure.

    Earlier, chairman, Faculty of Plant and Machinery of the institution, Mr Paul Osaji, said they decided on the theme due to their belief that aviation is key to any economy, especially when there is a heightened interest in the acquisition of private jets by wealthy Nigerians.

    He said estate surveyors need to be trained and retrained on how to effectively value and appraise aircrafts and related objects. He said : “ The value of businesses are growing and most chief executives need to move around quickly, safely and conveniently in their own jets but they need to be guided in terms of pricing and maintenance after the purchase. It’s one thing to spend a fortune to acquire a jet and another to maintain it to the extent that it will have a second hand value.”

    Osaji said there is no better time to get the training than that the nation has moved from having 50 private aircraft to 200 to prevent air mishaps due to improper maintenance by the owners or age valuation of the aircrafts before purchase.

    He said they have the adequate training and expertise to do valuation on any type of asset.

  • Estate surveyors identify barriers to practice

    Estate surveyors identify barriers to practice

    To instill sanity and discipline in their profession, surveyors and valuers have agreed to adhere strictly to ethics, professionalism and international best practices. They have also advocated sanctions against breach and commendation when necessary, writes OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE

    The increasing number of quacks and impostors in estate surveying practice has created a credibility crisis in the profession.

    To check the menace, senior members of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors& Valuers (NIESV) Lagos branch, under the aegis of Heads of Practice, have stressed the need for members to imbibe ethics, professionalism and responsibility in service delivery to improve their earnings and worth in the eye of the public.

    In a paper, entitled Professionalism, Ethics and Responsibility Essentials of the 21st century, delivered  by Mr Yinka Omotosho, a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, United Kingdom, he regretted that the practice seem to differ from what is obtainable in the United Kingdom.

    He noted that unethical behaviour seems to have crept into the profession through big firms, frontiers, pioneers and senior professionals in the name of meeting targets or making more money.

    He said: “We cannot shy away from the fact that unethical behaviour is eating deep into the credibility fabrics and continuity of our vocation. Our profession is on the brink of collapse if nothing is done to arrest the situation.”

    He warned that estate surveying may be on the brink of collapse if nothing was done to arrest the situation. Omotosho noted that in the United Kingdom, a surveying firm carryies out its work with skill, care, diligence and proper regard for technical standards expected of it.

    “It should also assist employees in their learning, operate a complaints handling procedure, and preserve the security of clients’ money entrusted to its care while managing transactions and using an accounting system appropriate to the business, amongst others,” he said.

    However, he said the same could not be said of the practice in Nigeria where clients lose their cash in transaction, pay more than the value of a property and the withholding of their document by surveyors.

    He advocated tougher sanctions for defaulting members and firms. He also canvassed the inclusion  of professional ethics and practice in universities and polytechnics curricula.

    In his response, the president, Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers, Mr Emeka Eleh, agreed with some of the observed abuses. He, however, said they had repositioned the practice to try cases of abuse within six months by the Professional Practice Committee. Mr Eleh noted that sanction grows “every society and we cannot shy away from wielding the big stick on erring members.”

    Chairman of the event, Mr Olalekan Dosunmu identified personal interest, political influence as the bane of the practice in the country and called for a change.

    Chairman, NIESV, Lagos branch, Mr. Sola Fatoki said the idea of the conference is to position the practice for a better practice in view of some formidable challenges facing the profession in the country. The challenges he enumerated, include infiltration by quacks and non patronage by government among others.

    Chief Kola Akomolede also decried the lack of sanction of erring firms and poor skills of some members. He urged the institution to step the disciplinary arm of the practice to put members in check to adhere to the ethics of the profession.