News

Sanwo-Olu’s Policy On Housing Will Avert Building Collapse In Lagos – Aide

Published

5 months ago

July 12, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

As part of measures aimed at curbing the reoccurring cases of building collapses in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given a 3-month window assessment in the early part of the 1st Quarter of his Administration to the public in order to ensure integrity test for building as well as for approval in the state.

Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Hon. Abdul-Akeem Ayodeji Amodu, while speaking on the sideline of the inaugural lecture ceremony of the 26th President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) held at the State House in Abuja stated that the 3-month window seek to find out whether the Properties already built are under pipeline, Sewage tanks and Tracks, or on the drainage area, or make the building are not even aligning with the building
codes, or not aligning with the master plan of the state.

Amodu explained that Governor Sanwo-Olu has however given the opportunity to the public to apply for their building plans approval and documentation, to make sure that their properties are duly titled adding that many estates in Lagos have no building Plan approval.

“So what Mr. Governor has done, in essence, is for individual and property owners or Groups should come up with their
documents, come up with your As-Built Plan.
The Commissioner of Physical Planning in Lagos State in the recent past has come up
with this idea through the policies of advice to the government . The Government & Ministries were shocked to discover that there are so many estates, so many homes in Lagos that don’t have
building Plan approval.

” Some don’t even have Architectural building plans, they don’t follow the building code,
So what we’ve done as Government is to allow people to engage Professionals like Architects, Town Planners, Estate Surveyors & Valuers, Engineers to assist them to come up with a document, even if you have built your House,
get an architect, let them design for you a proper As Built building plan. Then you come up to the
state to present it, because the Truth is that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government is a people’s government. We don’t want to
come and start breaking homes or Bringing Buildings Down without Advocacy. The Government does not want to start making people homeless, because we need these
people.

“They’ll do the normal integrity
test on your building to ensure that the property is actually standing well on a solid
structure, so that you don’t, jave a defective building in future, after getting that approval, the building collapses”

Meanwhile, Amodu noted that in a bid to curb housing deficit in Nigeria, Lagos State has begun the development of housing projects in all the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state both on Public-Private partnerships (PPP) Joint Venture (JV) and Government Allocated resources Model.

He explained that the governor recently commissioned about 360 housing units of one, two bedrooms, and three bedrooms in different clusters which was hitherto abandoned in the state adding that the governor also commissioned 144 units of one, two and three
bedrooms as well as another 60 units of three-bedroom blocks of apartments in
Amuwo Odofin local government area 3 weeks ago.

We also still have on-going Project embarked upon by The Ministry of Housing,
LSDPC, LBIC and a host of other Government Real Estate Partnerships with the Government to be Commissioned soon by Mr Sellable. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s to realise his Administration s THEME+ Agenda for the State.

Amodu further assured that development will be even in the state as affordable housing scheme has also been made available for the masses to meet the demand of housing deficit in the state.

“We
are still making sure that we develop homes for the masses, we have a scheme
called the LAGSHOMS SCHEME which is A Rent- To – Own which is like pay-as-you-earn scheme, which is been Supported through the Lagos Mortgage Board for the
Lagoshoms where you pay 5% of the total cost and value of
that property.

“And every other amount of that property will be spread around for you to lpay within the
space of about 10 years. So it’s a way of bringing development to the people and residents of Lagos, by giving comfort to the less
privileged, to the working class, and to the Non-Structured Sector of the state.” He added.

Speaking on the inaugural lecture and Investiture Ceremony of the 26th President of The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers which was well attended by major stakeholders in Government,Legislature, and Captain of Industry in the built Sector and Environment, Amodu emphasized the symbiotic relationship between NIESV and Lagos State Government as cordial adding that governor Sanwo-olu is poised at ensuring professionals must take charge and full responsibility in a Professional manner of Real Estate Activities & events in the built industry as well as he also encourage and Admonished other Professionals by saying it is a Clarion Call to all other professional Bodies to embrace Professionalism so as to Deliver the Good for the Benefit of Lagos amd Nigeria’s Development as Whole.

News

PHOTO: Courtesy visit to Priesthood Orphanage by Just Friends Club of Nigeria Founder

Published

1 hour ago

November 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

Dr. (Mrs) Blessing Echenwo, left, founder of Priesthood Orphanage, Karamajiji, Abuja and Mrs. Maria Cardillo, a member of Just Friends Club of Nigeria, during the visit of the club to the orphanage in Abuja…recently

News

Just in: NYSC Releases Batch ‘C’ Corps Members Call Up Letters

Published

3 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

The National Youth Service Corps has announced the release of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream I call-up letters for prospective corps members.

The corps made the announcement in a series of post on its official X (former Twitter) handle on Monday.

It said orientation camp for the stream is expected to start on November 27, 2024 and closes on December 17, 2024.

According to the post, “some prospective corp members posted to Lagos will have orientation in Ogun and Osun.

“While some of those posted to Zamfara will have in Kebbi and Sokoto etc”

The corps, however, advised prospective corps members to print and sign an addendum, which will be submitted during registration at the orientation camp.

Tips to guide Deployed Prospective Corps Members

Do not travel to the Orientation Camps at night. Break your journey when necessary.
Report on your scheduled reporting date.
Apply for spelling error and name rearrangement on your dashboard.
After documentation in the Camp, you cannot change your Date of Birth, Date of Graduation, Course of Study and Passport Photograph.
Do not report to the Camp if there is any discrepancies in your course of study or with the Date of Graduation on your Statement of Result and your Call-up Letter. Contact your Institution to sort it out.
ATTENTION TO ALL 2024 BATCH ”C” STREAM I MARRIED FEMALE PROSPECTIVE CORPS MEMBERS

All married female Prospective Corps members (PCMs) who are deployed to States where their husbands are not domiciled should report to the nearest NYSC Orientation Camp for their State of Deployment to be changed.

They are to report during the period of Registration at the Orientation Camps with the copies of their marital and other relevant documents as evidence. Once the change is made it will reflect on theirM dashboard for reprinting.

News

Oba of Benin to withdraw suit as Okpebholo restores rights

Published

8 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and the Benin Traditional Council may withdraw the suits they filed against the state government as Governor Monday Okpebholo, on Sunday, restored the full statutory rights of the Oba and reversed the policies of the previous administration that impacted the Benin Traditional Council.

A statement on Sunday by Okepebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, said the governor abolished the new traditional councils in Edo South created by the immediate-past governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Okpebholo also backed the Federal Government’s recognition of the Oba’s palace as the custodian of repatriated Benin artefacts looted during the 1897 British colonial expedition.

Providing an insight into the governor’s gesture, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie, said it signaled the resolution of the crisis between the Oba of Benin and the Edo State government leading to lawsuits duringt the Obaseki’s administration.

Osagies said, “The cases in court are cases which the Oba of Benin himself and the Benin Traditional Council instituted against the state government, and they are all civil matters. And you know that in civil suit or in any suit, parties are encouraged to settle amicably.

“So, if the parties are already settling and one side is already meeting the condition of settlement, the next step you are going to hear is that the party who went to court, which is the Oba of Benin, and the Benin Traditional Council, will instruct their counsel to withdraw the cases from court and that will be the end of the matter.

“The two parties are now settling for harmony and peace to reign, so the government is doing its own side of it.

“This statement is a prelude to discontinuing all legal proceedings with respect to the twin issues of the concession of the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre by government to the Benin Traditional Council for 30 years and the creation of additional councils.”

The statement by Okepebholo’s Chief Press Secretary outlined the administration’s commitment to restoring the dignity and authority of the Benin monarch.

“This administration also hereby abolishes the new traditional councils in Edo South, created by the last administration,” the statement noted.

Additionally, Governor Okpebhol revoked the decision of the Obaseki’s administration to convert the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre into a motor park.

The government announced plans to restore the cultural centre to its original purpose.

“This administration is restoring the Oba Akenzua Centre to a suitable condition for its original purpose,” the statement added.

The governor also reinstated the financial entitlements of the Benin Traditional Council, ordering that the status quo before the creation of the abolished councils be maintained.

According to the statement, Okpebholo affirmed support for the Federal Government’s official gazette, which recognizes the Oba of Benin as the rightful owner and custodian of the repatriated Benin artefacts.

He also distanced his administration from the Museum of West Africa Art, instead backing the Benin Royal Museum project to house the artefacts.

“The Federal Government has also issued a gazette for the recognition of ownership and custody of the repatriated Benin artefacts to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II,” the statement explained. “Governor Okpebholo respects the rights and privileges of the traditional ruler of Benin kingdom… and pledges the support of his administration to ensure the monarch plays his role as the custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.”

Okpebholo reiterated his administration’s respect for traditional institutions and vowed to avoid interference in the internal affairs of the Benin Traditional Council. “The Oba of Benin, as the father of all Benin people, is the sole custodian of the customs and traditions of the Benin people, and my administration respects customs and traditions in the land,” he stated, emphasising the government’s efforts to uphold the cultural and historical integrity of the Benin Kingdom.