Day: April 5, 2024

Mrs Uzo Oshogwe, Managing Director, Afriland Properties Plc, says urgent and strategic steps should be taken to address the barriers hindering women’s participation in the real estate sector to drive significant economic growth.

Oshogwe said this on Thursday in Lagos at the Female Lawyers in Real Estate (FELIREP) event to promote women’s inclusion in the real estate sector.

She stated that access to finance, capacity building, mentorship programmes, and policy reforms among other key initiatives were actionable strategies aimed at breaking down barriers and empowering female professionals.

‘Finance plays a major role in propelling entrepreneurial endeavours forward.

‘Government and financial institutions should explore establishing special loan programmes and grants tailored specifically for women real estate entrepreneurs.

‘This will facilitate capital for property acquisition, development, and investment, thereby leveling the playing field and opening doors to opportunities,’ she said.

Oshogwe also e
mphasised the importance of mentorship and capacity building in nurturing the next generation of female leaders in real estate.

She said that Afriland Properties Plc was an organisation actively promoting inclusion within its ranks.

According to her, the company’s governing board is made up of 50 per cent women, its executive management team comprises 44 per cent females, and its staff has 38 per cent women making an impact in the workplace.

‘We know there is still a lot of work to be done, but I am proud to say that Afriland is an equal-opportunity employer and every woman who has grown her career in our organisation has done so through hard work and diligence.

‘Promoting women’s inclusion in the Nigerian real estate market is not only a matter of social justice but also a crucial step towards achieving sustainable development and economic growth.

‘By implementing these strategies, the industry can unlock the full potential of women’s talents and contributions, driving positive change across all levels
of society,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ART) project is 97 per cent completed.

Wike stated this after an inspection tour of the project from the Metro Station in Central Area to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday.

The minister described the development as a ‘dream comes true’.

He said that the project would be ready for inauguration in May to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s one year in office.

He added that Tinubu had approved a schedule for the inauguration of projects to celebrate his one year in office, including the ART, also known as the Abuja Light Rail

‘We are very happy. We are almost 97 per cent completed. All works are ongoing to make sure that the May delivery date is a reality.

‘I believe this is one of the projects Mr President would like to inaugurate, because it is very key to the development of the economy.

‘For me, it is a dream comes true, and we are happy that after all said and done, the metro
line will be put to use for Nigerians, come May 29,’ he said.

The minister, who took a 30-minute ride from the Metro Station to the Airport, contended that the train was more convenient to use than vehicles to the airport.

He added: ‘I am really impressed with the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

‘The company has assured us that all the renovation works on the stations will be ready before the commissioning date.’

On whether the rail lines would be extended to areas experiencing high traffic, the minister said: ‘I am not committing anything now, because we are taking everything step by step.

‘We have to first of all, consider the financial implications.

‘Linking areas like Nyanya are important, no doubt about it. We will talk to the contractor to see what we can do, but for now, there is no commitment.’

Wike also said that the FCT Administration had concluded plans to build three terminals for the road transportation system for residents of the territory.

He expla
ined that the development would significantly help in curtailing the menace ‘one chance’ criminals in Abuja.

He said that the FCTA road transport system would be rolled out in May, adding that when inaugurated, people would no longer take the risk of entering vehicles they don’t know the operators.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development said strategies to develop Alimosho, a densely populated area in Lagos, into a sustainable and functional city, had been identified.

The Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr Mukaila Sanusi, said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

Sanusi quoted the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, as saying this at the final stakeholders meeting on the review of Alimosho Model City Plan, held on Thursday in Lagos.

Olumide said that the plan included strategies like higher density housing, low-cost housing options, improved public transportation, and designated focus areas for development.

He said that the government was committed to implementing the plan and ensuring different agencies worked together to achieve its goals.

”Several remarkable efforts in directing the growth pattern of our bourgeoning Lagos through plan preparation, execution and implementation have evoked the continuous attention of gove
rnment, which now metamorphosed into the preparation of 13 different Master and Model City Plans, 9 Action Area Plans and 9 Development Guide Plans to revitalise the state in both spatial and sectoral aspects.”

The Commissioner said that the Lagos State Government restructured the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to improve the development of Lagos.

This restructuring, he said, aimed to create a more efficient system for achieving a livable, organised and sustainable built environment in the state.

He expressed his enthusiasm about the progress being made on developing urban plans for the state.

The commissioner said that the rapid progress suggested that the Lagos State government was actively working on creating blueprints for various parts of the city.

These plans, he noted, should guide future development in a way that benefits residents.

Sanusi also said that a group of consultants presented the revised plan, along with a briefing from a government official.

He noted that the p
lan included strategies for better housing options, which involved Higher Densification, Regeneration, Low-cost Housing Schemes and Enhanced Public Transportation.

He mentioned that 13 specific zones including Ipaja, Amikanle, Egbeda and Igando would serve as focus areas of specific planning policies.

Sanusi also noted that the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Oluwole Sotire, explained the purpose and duration of the plan.

Sotire said that the 20- year plan was aimed at developing strategies that would transform Alimosho Local Government Area into a model city of choice.

He said that stakeholders’ contributions were necessary to make the process truly participatory, and the outcome people- oriented.

‘Residents are the beneficiaries of the many advantages of the plan, including the creation of employment and wealth, as well as the creation of an inclusive, equitable, effective, efficient and environment-friendly place to live, work and prosper,’ Sotire said.

The
Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Mr Lekan Shodeinde, said that his office would work with the office of Physical Planning to ensure strict implementation of the plan.

The General Manager, Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA), Mr Daisi Oso; Member, House of Representatives, Alimosho Federal Constituency, Rep. Ganiyu Ayuba, among others, were listed as also being at the event.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), on Friday, distributed food items to the Police Muslim faithful at the Force Headquarters Mosque in appreciation of their sacrifices to the nation.

The National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan, said the organisation had made it a tradition to provide support for the Nigerian police.

According to Olaniyan, the current members of PCRC executive had put plans in place to celebrate Christian and Muslim faithful in the Nigerian police once in a year.

According to him, the committee chose Christmas period for the Christians and Ramadan period for Muslims, adding that today’s distribution marked the second edition.

‘So, this programme is to celebrate Muslim faithful in the Nigerian police as a token of appreciation of what they are doing.

‘Majority of us Muslims that are fasting take our leave during this Ramadan period, but the police personnel are busy running after criminals even in fasting.

‘The one that is supposed to be directing traffic is there
desperately fasting,’ said Olaniyan.

He explained that the PCRC leadership decided to provide about 1,000 materials for members of the Nigeria police force.

‘We are showing love and we want to use this to encourage them that we are with them,’ he said.

The representative of the Inspector-General of Police, AIG Yusuf Usman, who received the items, expressed appreciation to the PCRC for the kind gesture, especially in the face of current economic challenges in the country.

Usman said it was not easy for low income earners to buy food because of the high costs, saying the gesture would be a moral booster for the Muslim faithful in the police force.

He urged them to sustain the good virtue and gains of the Ramadan through dedication to duty and love for one another.

The Chief Imam of Force Headquarters Mosque, Alhassan Yakub, commended the committee for the gesture, adding that it would promote togetherness and peaceful coexistence.

He called for continuous prayers for the nation and its leadership to con
tinue to keep the country in peace and harmony.

‘We pray for all our officers and men that are protecting lives and property and all the security agencies.

‘We pray that this appreciation should continue and should go far and wide so that so many people can benefit more,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has fined the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) ?200 million for failure to comply with the prescribed customer band classifications for the tariff billing.

This is contained in a statement issued by the NERC management in Abuja on Friday.

The commission said AEDC was fined for non-compliance with the Supplementary Order to the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for the company.

The NERC said that AEDC will pay the ?200 million as a fine for the flagrant breach of the commission’s order.

According to the NERC, the decision follows a detailed review and customer feedback, which revealed that AEDC had applied the new tariff to all customer bands, contrary to the order, which was designed to ensure fair billing practices.

‘AEDC is therefore mandated to reimburse all customers in Bands B, C, D and E respectively that were billed above the allowed customer categories/tariff bands provided in the order.

‘Reimburse through the provision of
the balance of customer tokens that the affected customers would be entitled to receive at the applicable rates.

‘And all token reimbursements shall be issued to the affected customers by April 11, 2024,’ it said.

The commission also directed the AEDC to file evidence of compliance with the directives in a and c with the Commission by April 12.

The management said the action by the commission underscores its commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring equitable practices within Nigeria’s electricity sector.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has said that no fewer than 50,000 Nigerian intending pilgrims will perform the 2024 hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Malam Jalal Arabi, disclosed this at a news conference held at Hajj House on Friday in Abuja.

Arabi said the commission was on course in conducting a successful Hajj operation, no matter the challenges.

He reiterated that Nigerian Muslims would perform the 2024 Hajj in a number that nobody had ever imagined.

‘ This year’s Hajj preparations is one of the most difficult and peculiar one.

‘ You know in the past, we had the luxury of time to prepare at our own pace; But, this time around, the host which is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came up with the timeline that we have to work within,’ he said.

Arabi said that the Federal Government had intervened in so many ways, especially with policies to support the commission to ensure that things did not go wrong.

‘I made bold to say that there were series of i
nterventions that government made in terms of policies to ensure that there is no unnecessary tension in the nation.

‘ Government has a responsibility to keep the nation one, devoid of chaos and rancour,’ he said.

Arabi noted that, going forward, Hajj Savings Scheme would be the surest method to adopt.

He assured that the commission would embark on adequate sensitisation and enlightenment to make sure that intending pilgrims key into it.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had allocated 95,000 Hajj slots to Nigeria for the 2024 pilgrimage.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria