July 30, 2015 by The Nation

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

NIESV urges Buhari to name estate surveyor as housing minister

HE Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has said that the country will be well positioned to solve its housing problems if a professional from its rank or from the built environment is appointed as the next Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. The Chairman, Lagos branch, NIESV, Mr. Offiong Ukpong, made this known in his inaugural speech at the investiture of the new executive council of the branch, recently. He regretted that over the years, the government had neglected the input of estate surveyors and valuers as land economists in decisions and policies pertaining to property transactions, the environment, national assets and investment. “If Nigeria shall be among the 10 most developed economies in the world by 2030, then we must begin now to be more pragmatic in handling issues of our country, towns, cities and villages,” he said. Ukpong added that the tenure of the council under his stewardship would focus on advocacy to place the profession of estate surveying and valuation where it ought to be. “Land economics is greater than money economics and prominence should be given to land

Stories by Muyiwa Lucas

economy in the country,” he stated. A former President of NIESV, Mr. Bode Adediji, said the country’s real estate sector was the worst in the world in terms of practice and regulation. According to him, if there is any sector in our country that has been so reluctant to change, it is the real estate sector. Comparing the sector here to others in the world in terms of governance, practice, regulation, and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product of the country, Adediji scored it as “the worst” in the world. “This is sad because it should have been the sector that from one regime to another should have been used as a platform to create employment for the young people, either as architects, engineers, town planners, electricians, bricklayers or others; but unfortunately, this country has depended up till this moment on two main areas, which are not sustainable, petroleum and trading,” he lamented. He, therefore, challenged the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari not to ignore pressure groups and reinvent the nation. “We have a land area

of 973,000 square kilometres with a population of 173 million people; it is an aberration for such a nation to be asking others to feed her. While would Thailand for instance, feed us when we are not lame, deaf and dumb? I know there are vested interests but the earlier we are able to surmount self-interest to the general interest of everyone, than we would see the light,” he added. Adediji, who is also the Principal Partner, Bode Adediji Partnership, said Buhari could not afford to repeat the mistake of past regimes by appointing ministers that did not fit into certain ministries that were critical to the development of the country. “For sectors like agriculture, please put someone who is committed and who knows all about agriculture. For housing, please pick professionals from the built environment comprising architecture, estate management, town planning and surveyors, among others, and who have had practical pedigree in production and not in rent-seeking capacity, and charge them with the duties,” he said. He also called for a shift from the current rent economy, adding that the country must engage in property development, facility management, project management and venture capital.

NIoB praises WTC Abuja quality HE Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has praised the quality of work and innovation put into the World Trade Centre in Abuja, stating that the project is a true representation of a 21st century development. The commendation came during a courtesy call by the executive members of the Nigerian Institute of Building (Abuja chapter) to the World Trade Centre Abuja. The Group Managing Director, Churchgate Group, Mr. Vinay Mahtani, promoters of WTC Abuja, spoke on the need for key stakeholders within the real estate industry to be innovative, adding that in an increasingly complex and challenging world of construction, only the best practitioners will be able to deliver the performance necessary for success time after time. He praised the officials for the visit and stressed that the partnership between the institute and Churchgate Group will be further strengthened. Speaking on the rationale for bringing the WTC to Abuja, Mahtani stated that the organisation’s aim is to build a city within a city, where people can live, work and play in a composite location. According to him, “the WTC Abuja features AAA offices, luxury residences, upscale shopping and hospitality that offers unparallel luxury and comfort to those seeking a lifestyle above

the rest. “Occupants or tenants do not have to bother about the infrastructure challenges within the Abuja metropolis as services such as electricity, water, utilities, security and road network are all taken care of once you enter the World Trade Centre Abuja”, he stated. The Vice Chairman, NIoB, Abuja Chapter, Mr. Oghagha James, stated that the WTC Abuja is a 21st century development that will be envy to other African countries. Oghagha said that the institute is ready to partner with individuals and private organisations such as Churchgate Group who share in the ideology of NIOB. “It is imperative to give the community the confidence that the buildings that are being constructed are functional, safe and comfortable on a consistent basis and are of global best practice,” he said. He urged government and the private sector to support builders and other relevant stakeholders in delivering quality housing that addresses the needs of the Nation. Churchgate Group, established in 1968, is a developer of luxury commercial buildings and multifamily residential towers. With nearly a half century of business success in Nigeria, the Churchgate Group has embarked on the most iconic real estate projects in subSahara Africa.

NIQS holds two-day workshop

TWO-DAY national workshop on Measurement and Cost Management of Engineering Infrastructure Projects, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) begins today at the Universal Hotel, Enugu. The workshop ends tomorrow. According to the institute’s Secretary for Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Mr. Jide Oke, the workshop would dwell among others on the Challenges of Cost Management of Projects in a Dynamic Economic Setting, Measurement and Cost Management of Railways, Allied Transportation Networks, Concrete Bridges, Box culverts, drains, kerbs and associated works. It will also examine issues of preliminaries, site clearance and earthworks and the cost management of these items of works in

engineering projects With eminent resource persons and professionals in the sector, who have held their own over the years, the seminar will x-ray the entire gamut of measurement and cost management of heavy mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering (MEP) projects as well as the Cost Management of Airport Construction projects. The event is expected to be graced by construction industry professionals such as quantity surveyors, engineers, architects, builders and officials of government agencies (MDAs) and procurement officers and would also beam searchlights into Bills of Quantities and other Engineering Models in the Costing of Engineering Projects in Nigeria.

Ogun to develop shopping malls in all senatorial districts

• WTC, Abuja...commended by NIOB

Fed Govt inaugurates 12-man committee on affordable housing

HE Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr George Ossi has inaugurated a 12-member Ministerial Committee to develop a blueprint for affordable housing in Nigeria. This, he said, was due to the wide gap in the affordability of houses in the country. He said that the delivery of adequate and affordable housing in Nigeria as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution is yet to meet the desired expectations which has resulted in inadequate stock as a minimum of one million housing units per annum was still being expected in order to reduce the deficit and avert a housing crisis by the year 2020. The Permanent Secretary disclosed that currently, about 600,000 housing units are being developed annually through the PPP arrangement, 240,000 affordable housing by the Federal Housing Authority, 240,000 low cost

From Bukola Amusan,Abuja

housing units under the prototype housing scheme as well as the development of new towns and cities in the states of the federation. He noted that home ownership will truly give Nigerians a stake in their communities and constitute the first major capital investment and life ambition of individuals. He said a strong housing and construction sector can help to generate social benefits to the citizens. Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the committee, and Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, Mr Aithelbert Muoka, said the committee will work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in them and hoped that relevant au-

thorities will find its recommendations useful and implementable. The committee’s terms of reference include to collect relevant information on housing delivery in Nigeria and make recommendations on appropriate housing delivery methods and models. The committee is also expected to make recommendations on measures and strategies towards adequate housing delivery in Nigeria and also recommend appropriate funding mechanism. It will also recommend measures to be undertaken by governments towards achieving affordable housing delivery in Nigeria as well as determine the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in housing delivery in Nigeria and make any other recommendations as appropriate. The committee has four weeks to conclude its assignment.

N order to boost commerce and encourage self employment the state, the Ogun State government says it would replicate the type of big shopping malls already constructed in the Ogun Central Senatorial District in the Ogun West and Ogun East Senatorial parts of the state. The state also disclosed that it has successfully graded and compacted with culverts a total of 1,235.20 Kilometres of rural roads spread across the 20 local government areas of the state. Besides, government had already completed the construction of the shopping mall located in Shapon market, Abeokuta South Local Government Area, while those in Isale Igbehin, Itoku and Omida markets, all located within Ogun Central Senatorial District have reached advanced stages. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr Kayode Ademolake, who made this disclosure through a statement signed by the Agency’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, said government’s decision to start the construction of the shopping malls in Abeokuta was borne out of the fact that markets located within the Ogun Central Senatorial Districts were demolished to give the

rights of way for the “Ogun Standard” roads while none was demolished in the Ogun East and Ogun West Senatorial Districts to give rights of way for the roads constructed there. “These big shopping malls that we have in Abeokuta will be replicated in the two remaining senatorial districts. Government decided to have these pioneer shopping malls in the state capital because many markets were demolished to give the rights of way for the construction of the road while no market was demolished in the other two senatorial districts. That notwithstanding, government will replicate the shopping malls in the remaining districts,” Adamolake noted. He pointed out that the allocation of the already completed shopping mall located in Sapon market was been delayed because government wanted to ensure that there was fairness in the allocation, adding that as soon as the process involved were completed, government would begin allocation. On rural roads, Ademolake assured that in spite of the feat recorded by government as regards infrastructural development during its first tenure, government was more poised to continue with the feat so as to make life more meaningful for the people.