The Nation Newspaper

Tag: owners

  • ‘Six-month grace to property owners not revenue drive’

    Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rotimi Ogunleye says the government’s  six-month grace to property owners without building permit is not a revenue drive strategy. It is to boost planning and assist property owners, he says in this interview with MUYIWA LUCAS. 

    Your ministry recently announced  six months’ grace to property owners to enable them regularise their  building permit. Why did you do this?

    Why we have told people to come and do from March 1 to August 31 is that, unlike before when they tell you that the precondition to get your building permit is to bring registered title, we have removed that precondition. We will accept a family receipt issued by the land owners, even though it is not registered. During this period, we will waive penalties for those that come to do the regularisation. But, if you come after the deadline of August 31, then you will have to pay the penalty that obtained before the grace period. Regularisation is applicable to buildings; but new buildings owners without registered titles can also come and get their building permits. So, the incentive is that we are waiving the penal fee that applies during this period. You see, quite a number of people have built without permits, and we don’t want this to continue. Having a permit ensures that your building is recognised by the government. It tells us that the building exists somewhere. So, if, peradventure, a road is going to be constructed, which will affect one’s building and it has a permit, then the permit will enhance the value of the building and the compensation that will be paid.

    Some stakeholders see this grace period as a revenue drive by the government. How do you react to this?

    That is not correct. The main reason is not  to drive revenue. You know Lagos is a mega city. With over 24 million people, the state is being reprogrammed for proper development, and also being upgraded towards becoming a smart city. To achieve this, we need accurate data for planning, including knowing the demographic factors,  and how many houses are in place. This will enable the government to determine the size of a general hospital or a primary healthcare facility to build in such a place. It also tells us the size of a road an area needs, including electricity transformers. While I agree that the government is not primarily responsible for providing transformers, it is the duty of the electricity companies; but since this administration assumed office in 2015, it has put in place quite a number of transformers in various communities. So, it is when we look at the data here in the Physical Planning Ministry that we can say there are so many houses in Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, Ikeja and plan for them adequately. We can only be accurate on this when we look at our records and see the number of people that have obtained our planning permits. The state Urban and Regional Planning and Development law is not new. It has been there and as old as Nigeria and laws are subject to amendment. The law says that any development that you want to do, just get approval before you do  it. This is why the advanced countries are able to plan properly for their people because they have demographic indices for planning. I know many buildings that have been put up without planning permits in the last 10 years across all divisions of the state. With the influx of people into Lagos daily, we need all these details for planning. That is why we are doing that and not really for revenue generation.

    How many buildings are you targeting ?

    We have no target, but we enjoin people to make use of the window because it affords everyone, developers inclusive, the opportunity to regularise their building permits without paying penalty. Going by the law, violators must pay the penalty because the laws says you cannot build without building permits. However, during these six months, we leave you to regularise with no penalty. So, we are not looking at any number, it depends on how the people respond and understand the importance of being on the right side of the law.

    What is the approval process like because the 28-day approval time being bandied by the government seems to be on paper?

    That is not true with this administration. We have simplified the approval process. The delay experienced is from those applying for Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). In this administration, the 28-day approval is sacrosanct. Counting of the days starts when an applicant submits the documents and without any irregularity. Some applicants disappear for a month or more when it is time to pay before reappearing, In such an instance, we do not count that period as part of the processing because it’s not our fault that an applicant didn’t pay as at when due. We even have what we call “fast-track” processing such that you can get your approval in 10 days, but it attracts extra charges. We have eliminated the delays; we even have app with which you can apply for your planning permit online. For your information, because of the massive transformation we have done in this ministry, it has really pushed up the state and country on the ladder of “Ease of Doing Business” moving the country up from the 169th position to 45th out of 189 countries. It is the activities of our operational framework, which have been tasted that has made this advancement to be possible. So, the delay right now is not from us; we have perfected our system and are ready to deliver once the customer has fully complied on his own part.

    There have been calls for an upgrade in the state’s masterplan on drainage, especially as the rains approach. What is your ministry doing about it?

    The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development is responsible for designing masterplans for the entire state. In preparation for the rainy season, the government recommended the clearing of drainages, which is the responsibility of Ministry of Environment. Our responsibility is to identify and recommend areas where drainages are appropriate. We design drainages along with proposed roads; that is, once a new road is being established, drainages must be designed with it. Such proposal is to dislodge waste water into the Lagoon. The design of roads and drainages is the responsibility of Ministry of Works while the maintenance is that of Ministry of the Environment.

    What about the spate of coastal development? Is it not part of your ministry’s work?

    The masterplan has designated various uses along the coastal lines with setback regulations.The Regional Masterplan department in the Ministry in preparation for these coastal development prepares setbacks to be observed in various waterbodies, such as canals, oceans, lagoons, and streams. We specify the areas and limits to be developed to avoid disaster. The Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure is in charge of coastal development.

    What are you doing about the over 100 slum settlements?

    We have an agency, the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), which  regenerates and turns them into better settlements. So, we have the template for these slums to regenerate them so that we have a city that is not only efficient, but also effective and aesthetically fascinating. We have a plan for each of them, but you will agree with me that you cannot do everything thing at the same time considering the cost. Regeneration of slums costs a lot of money- you have to demolish houses and for a democratic government, where you demolish house, you are expected to pay compensation. I must say this administration is putting a human face to its compensation payments because we are not strictly adhering to law of compensation payment. If you go by the law strictly, there are categories of people that are really not qualified to be compensated because they don’t have anything to show that their building or structure was approved by the government. But because this is a democratic government that is very passionate about her people, that is why Governor Akinwunmi Ambode ensures that we  compensate everybody, including those without permit or approval to build.

    So, is regeneration or development about demolition?

    It is not all about demolition. But if you look at what is happening, then there are instances where this becomes inevitable. First, building regulations have some specifics – in terms of spacing,  creating right of way for other users, the conveniences, and structures. So, if you want to regenerate blighted portions in the slums, there is no way you won’t remove certain things and replace them. In some of these slums, you may not even get a space to build a hospital. But I can tell you that we are eliminating some of these inadequacies as we are upgrading our settlement. For your information, you know that under the Land Use Act, there is differentiation between land in an urban and rural areas.

  • Owners mull selling Jumia

    There are plans to sell Africa’s leading e-commerce firm, Jumia. The owners of the firm, Rocket Internet, a German start-up investor, are also considering listing Jumia either in Frankfurt or London stock exchange.

    This is expected to take place this or next year, but according to Reuters, Rocket Internet is expected to “shortly mandate banks for an initial public offering of Jumia.”

    Rocket Internet helped set up Jumia in 2012, but the firm has been operating with loss for years despite conquering the market space.

    But the owners are seeking a way out from the consumer electronics and fashion retailer, in line with its strategy of selling or listing established internet firms.

     Reuters said Berenberg, which has a track record of working with Rocket on capital market transactions, is seen to be in a good position to win a mandate, the people said.

    A listing of shares, in a volume of under €200 million ($245.7 million) is expected to be floated, but no information on Jumia’s valuation was immediately available.

    Last year, Rocket Internet floated online food groups, Delivery Hero and HelloFresh, while the investor is currently also preparing a flotation of its online furniture retailer Home24.

    1.2 billion consumers and 15 million small and medium-sized firms. It also features services such as an online hotel booking and a food delivery platform.

    Jumia said in January that it had 1 billion visits on its pages across Africa in 2017. It has 50,000 merchants in its ecosystem, where five million products, hotels, restaurants and other services are listed.

    According to a presentation from Rocket Internet, Jumia saw its adjusted loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization widen to €80.7 million in the first nine months of 2017. Revenues edged up to €57.3 million.

     

  • Tax: Govt targets property owners in highbrow areas

    Tax: Govt targets property owners in highbrow areas

    The Federal Government has extended its searchlight on tax evaders with net-worth properties in highbrow areas of major cities.

    The Federal Government on July 1, 2017 granted tax payers a nine-month grace to regularise their tax status under the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

    Yesterday, a  source in the Presidency told reporters that the government through its data mining agency “Project Lighthouse” had received documents on property owners across the country from state governments.

    The first set of property owners that will come under scrutiny for tax compliance are owners of buildings in Maitama, Asokoro, Garki ll, Wuse ll in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and those on Banana Island and its environs Magodo, Lekki, Ikoyi in Lagos state.

    The source revealed that tax records and bank account details of these property owners are being reviewed by the team of “Project Lighthouse.”

    The source said “the extension of the searchlight on these property owners is not unconnected with Illicit Financial Flow (IFF). Most of these people are diverting their incomes to properties and are not paying taxes.”

    It was further learnt that some state governments in collaboration with the federal government have provided electronic searchable data base for individual and corporate property owners with the following key information: Name of owner, plot number, location and Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) number.

    It was also leant that the federal government is extending the searchlight to other northern states, the south east and the south-south regions.

    The decision to go after highbrow property owners the source said, is because “it has been observed that their life style does not reflect in their tax payment.”

    Last week, the federal government played to prosecute tax evaders from April 1. Under the VAIDS programme, state governments will be major beneficiaries of the programme because after the recovery, the money will go to the states, which is why the states are cooperating with the federal government on the scheme.

  • Cow owners and the rest of us

    SIR: A few weeks ago, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, technically made the head of cow sellers in Ekiti State to take responsibility for any mishap that might be caused in Ekiti State by Fulani herdsmen.

    It appears we are all getting it wrong. We are all focusing only on the havocs of Fulani herdsmen but, not on cow owners who actually armed these herdsmen. We need to identify others so that the rest of us may go on our knees to beg them so that their hired herdsmen might stop their destructive tendencies.

    Let’s face it, if the rest of us were bent on not allowing the promoters of Biafra to divide the country, we would not also allow the sponsors of herdsmen to expand their territorial ambitions into our backyards. The era of expansion of the territory by force of arms is gone and gone for ever in Nigeria.

    A professor of Fulani origin once told us that the Fulani do not eat cows. He said that the Fulani were born to rule. Now we know their agenda.

    The APC has mandated Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to advise the party. I hope he would be forthright to tell the party that it is losing ground to its opponents with the non-stop of the killings by the herdsmen all over the country.

    He should be bold enough to tell the party home and bitter truth.

    APC has done a lot to change and reposition this country but, the unrelenting killings by Fulani herdsmen are proving to be a waterloo for the party.

    Nobody will remember the good works APC is doing so long those arming the Fulani herdsmen remain unidentified in the Nigerian environment.

    A few weeks ago, I went to Kara on Lagos/Ibadan express road, my research was alarming but educative. The first things I learnt was that even though most of the cows came form the North, many of them also belong to the southern elites mostly politicians and top civil and retired and serving officers. These are the “untouchable Nigerians” who hold the reign of power in the country. That was why the Inspector General of Police was very much handicapped.

    I would like cow owners to realize that they are in the business of cow rearing like other businessmen and women in Nigeria. They cannot harry the rest of us to submission. The cow owners are committing sins against God and humanity and it is definitely going to have boomerang effects later in their life.

     

    • Dr. Sunday O. Ajai,

    omoajai_sunday05@yahoo.com

  • Station owners to be prosecuted for violating DPR order

    Proprietors of eight filling stations in Akwa Ibom State are to be prosecuted for violating the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) seal off order, the Controller (Operations), Mr. Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, has said.

    He spoke yesterday in Uyo when the surveillance team of DPR carried out operations.

    Kingsley-Sundaye listed the stations as ABC filling station, Oil Link Lubrication Ltd, UdyChris filling station, Tonimas filling station, Sannil filling station, First Indices filling station, Nickgloson filling station and Spicy filling station.

    He said they were located on Ikot Ekpene road, Uyo, Abak road, Uyo and Aka Itiam in Uyo Local Government.

    “We are writing to the police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to arrest owners of these stations and prosecute them,” Kingsley-Sundaye said.

    He said when the team visited the stations that had been sealed off to find out the level of compliance, eight of them were caught selling fuel with DPR seal.

    “We had sealed off the eight stations for selling above approved government pump price of N145 per litre,” Kingsley-Sundaye said.

    He said the marketers disrespected the Federal Government price regime, adding that they would be prosecuted.

    Kingsley-Sundaye said the stations would be suspended from loading at the depot.

    “We are writing to the depot to stop these stations from lifting petroleum products,” he added.

    The      DPR controller of operation said their suspension would act as a deterrent to others.

    He warned independent marketers to desist from selling fuel to black marketers carrying jerry-cans.

    Kingsley-Sundaye said the department seized 50 litres of petrol and 100 jerry-cans of the product from black marketers, who sold fuel opposite NNPC filling station in Uyo.

  • Police warn vehicle owners

    The Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of abandoned vehicles parked at some divisional headquarters to come forward with proof of ownership within 14 days or risk forfeiting them through public auction.

    Those at Festac, Oke-Odo, Ijanikin, Trinity and Elemoro divisions are: Mercedes Benz Jeep marked CN156APP, Vanagon unregistered, Ford Explorer Jeep – CA467FST, Mitsubishi bus – DB187AAA, Honda Accord – LND733CZ, Vanagon bus – XW944Llsr, Vanagon bus – LND282XC, Vanagon bus – AAA520XA, Vanagon bus – SMK800XD, Vanagon bus – BDG370OXD, Mazda car unregistered, Toyota Sapiro – AGL167EY and accidental truck – AAA717XD and Golf car – KTU49AQ.

    Others at Ijeshatedo are Vanagon bus unregistered, Faragon bus – XD386SMK and Vanagon bus – XL392KSF.

    At Itire and Anthony divisions are: LT bus – FST 975XC, Vanagon bus – KRD756XB, Mitsubishi Pick Up AAA501XY and Vanagon bus – KSF198XF.

  • Events centres owners decry multiple taxes

    Events centres owners decry multiple taxes

    Owners of events centres, under the auspices of the Association of Venue Owners Lagos Nigeria (AVOLN), have urged the government at all levels to reduce the multiple taxes in the sector, saying they are crippling their businesses.

    At the launch of their logo in Lagos,  their President, Wemi Jones, said they pay as much as 15 taxes to the federal, state and local governments, urging that the taxes be cut drastically.

    He said the government should see the group with over 100 registered members out of 1000 practitioners as partners in nation building.

    He said his colleagues were discussing with the government on the issue.

    Lagos State Director for Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) Mrs Arinola Koladaisi noted that tax payment was critical for national development. She promised to look into the issue of multiple taxation, asking their support. She accused some AVOLN members of not remitting a particular tax which they had collected from their customers, warning that those involved should stop or be ready to face the law when caught.

    A representative of the state commissioner for Tourism, art and Culture Mrs Babara Wey, advised AVOLN members to partner the ministry, remain focused in their business and be educated to be on top of their game.

    At the event, a logo of the association was unveiled amid fun and fanfare. Jones urged members to keep to the industry’s standards.

    Lagos State Safety Commission Director-General Akin Dickson also advised AVOLN members to be safety conscious. He said constructing slippery floors as well as not having fire extinguishers, among others, could attract punishment.

  • Firm connects car owners with mechanics

    Mechville.com, an online platform dedicated to connecting car owners with auto technicians, has made a debut in Lagos.

    Already, over 50 certified auto technicians are on the platform, providing top-notch auto services to car owners that have signed on to the service at very competitive charges.

    Partboyz Auto Parts Limited, owners of Mechville.com, said plans are on to launch a mobile app for the service as well as expansion moves to other parts of the country. Its Managing Director,  Mr Olu Okusanya, said Mechville.com is fast becoming the first choice of discerning vehicle owners across the nooks and crannies of Lagos for its best service deals.

    “At Mechville.com, we make it easy and affordable to maintain your car by connecting you to the right professionals. With more than 50 automobile technicians across Nigeria, you can locate mechanics closest to you, call and ask for quotes to help you pick the best professional for your car repair,” Okusanya said.

    Disclosing that Mechvile.com works in three simple ways, the Partboyz Auto Parts boss said: “Mechville works in three simple steps. Simply log on to the site and describe what’s wrong with your car. Then choose a technician that is closest to you or that’s best suited for the job. Your car is fixed and you can rate and review the job done.”

    Okusanya maintained that Mechville.com has continued to grow its clientele because of the services provided by the technicians on the platform and the testimonials of satisfied customers.

    He said: “Mechville.com offers a win-win service as both our technicians and customers are daily expressing satisfaction at the values being provided by the platform. For the mechanics, who are specialised in broad areas of auto repairs and services, Mechville has been of immense benefit as customers find it easy to locate them for quick business. And for the car owners looking for urgent and immediate attention to their vehicles, all they just need to do is to log on to the platform to locate the nearest service provider to them.”

     

  • Oil field owners urged to lead modular refinery construction

    Oil field owners urged to lead modular refinery construction

    To address the challenges facing modular refinery construction in Nigeria, industry stakeholders have urged indigenous exploration and production companies, which own producing oil fields, to drive the initiative.

    Head, Energy Research Desk, Ecobank Plc, Mr. Dolapo Oni, said companies such as Seplat, Shoreline and Neconde should be leading modular refinery development. He noted that any investor, who wants to do  modular refinery that would produce different forms of fuel, including aviation kerosene for the purpose of selling locally and for export,  will face a big challenge if he is not a crude oil producer.

    He said: “If you look at refineries that have been developed in Nigeria that are successful, it is only one – Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited (NDPR). They own the field and built their refinery on their field, process their own crude and produce diesel at the rate they sell,” adding that it is the only model that can work for us here.

    Oni stressed the need to build refineries that can process crude from anywhere and any type of crude. He said: “You don’t just build refineries that can only process the Nigerian crude,” adding that:  “If you are not able to get constant supply of crude, that becomes a challenge to the refinery.”

    To him, one of the challenges facing the development of modular refineries in the country is sourcing for funds outside the country. He said Nigerian banks do not have much funds, and are already pressured by existing facilities to the oil and gas sector and cannot expand more.

    According to him, only a few of the top banks can provide some lending to the oil and gas sector, and refinery funding will be a challenge locally.

    “What it means in getting foreign funding is that you have to look at countries where refineries are gradually declining and they are looking to shift all that investments to somewhere else, countries like France and Italy.

    “Also, you look at countries that can provide export credit. For example, you can buy from the United States and they will be able to fund it, so with that you can actually bring it and refine it in Nigeria and, over time, you can pay them back.

    “But again, all these things, to some extent, require government’s guarantee as well. Government’s guarantee of crude feedstock was not for free because what some of them are asking is that they want government to guarantee them free crude not that they will not pay, but they will pay after the sale,” he said, adding that it can not work now.

    “Government should be able to guarantee that we get the crude to your refinery, but you must pay for the crude when it comes to you,” he insisted.

    He continued:“It will be a very big challenge because it means that products from the refineries have to be sold in dollars to foreign countries because you will pay back your funders in dollars.”

    Oni said banks were always looking for money to support the industry, adding that they would want to lend if they have the money and as long as the risks could be mitigated. According to him, banks are constantly talking with some foreign banks to complement the opportunity for lending, and more importantly, with participants in the industry.

    Ecobank, he said, had championed most of the modular refinery projects that had come up recently, adding it is talking to some of the foreign banks on how to raise money to assist them. “We look for possibilities of putting some money in them in terms of lending. We are trying our best and the best we can do is to talk to other foreign banks to see where we can get money for them,” he added.

    On revoking the licences of non-performing modular refineries, the Chairman, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho, said the Federal Government should jettison the idea and focus on how to revitalise those refineries for optimum performance.

    He said the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) should be more concerned with how the operators start refining crude oil in the country and not clamping on them. DPR regulates the activities of the oil and gas industry.

    According to him, the DPR was stating the obvious when it said only two out of the 48 modular refinery licensees were working,  urging the DPR to temper justice with mercy over licensees whose refineries are yet to begin production.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, he said the issue of optimising crude oil processing is what the country needs now  and not looking for scapegoats. Many firms have not been able to use their licences due to their inability to get funding from banks and other sources.

    Iheanacho said: “It is not that many operators do not want to process crude oil, but they do not have the means to do it. The funds are not just there. The local banks are not ready to provide them facility. When an operator goes to the bank, the banks give excuses. Owning and operating a modular refinery can cost even up to $2billion excluding getting a land for the project and carrying out due process on the project. At a point, the loan seekers would get frustrated by the antics of the banks, and before you know it, the licensee would abandon the idea of operating the refinery.”

    He said a modular refinery can be upgraded to suit the needs and the yearnings of its customers, adding that the refinery’s capacity can be upgraded to deliver 20,000 or 50,000 or even 100,000 barrels per day.

    Iheanacho said modular refineries have unique features as evident by the ways and manners their sizes and capacities are configured to meet the needs of their operators at any given time.

    DPR’s Deputy Director, Mr. Olumide Adeleke, said the government has given operators enough time to plan for the project, stressing that it is in the tradition of the agency to handle issues pertaining to the industry well. He said the government would not hesitate to carry out its oversight functions in the area of maintaining and promoting standards in the sector.

  • Ajimobi launches N120,000 Home Owners Charter

    Ajimobi launches N120,000 Home Owners Charter

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the weekend launched the Homeowners Charter policy to enable home owners regularise their land documents.

    The governor said the policy is part of his administration’s measures to lessen the pains of the economic downturn.

    Ajimobi also announced that the state will change from  paper-based Certificate of Occupancy to electronic Certificate of Occupancy (e-C-of-O), with security features to make it more copy-proof.

    The governor spoke at the launch of the enumeration and assessment of property at the Housing Corporation in Ibadan, the state capital.

    He said the scheme was created to enable home owners without title documents, such as survey and building plans, to obtain them with ease at the rate of N120,000.

    Ajimobi assured residents the scheme will be transparent and devoid of bottlenecks.

    “This is one of the measures …by our government not only to lessen the pains of the economic downturn but to also empower them for greater economic possibilities.

    “The electronic C-of-O will contain the following elements: scanned photograph of the owner printed on a copy-proof security paper; encrypted and enhanced 2D bar code  unique to the owner; additional embedded security characteristic containing vital security information to be viewed with an enabled barcode reader unique to the owner and  a distinctive Certificate of Occupancy number legible for all to see.”

    Ajimobi urged residents, especially property owners, to cooperate with the state’s Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), which will handle the enumeration and assessment.

    The governor noted that the essence of the enumeration is to generate data for sustainable developmental objectives.

    He said: “Without a dependable data base, neither significant nor sustainable developmental objectives can be achieved. However, to generate, categorise and databank these critical information, the state government decided to engage the services and collaboration of the Oyo State chapter of NIESV.

    “Our decision to appoint and work with this institution as Consultants for this very important assignment is a further testimony of this administration’s recognition of the role of professional bodies as able stakeholders in the daunting task of returning our dear state to its traditional and enviable position of the pacesetter.”