Lagos State government is hosting critical stakeholders in the built sector at a two-day conference and exhibition with the promise to address housing deficit in the State.

At an event organised by the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority LASRERA, with the theme ‘Unearthing real opportunities in real estate, making Lagos a 21st century economy’, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the real estate sector has the capacity to redefine the Gross Domestic Product of the country, if well harnessed.

Sanwo-Olu also mentioned that beginning from the first quarter of next year, all land related transactions in Lagos will be undertaken online.

This according to him is to Fastrack the process of getting approvals on land matters and create an enduring business-driven property development market in the State.

The Governor who acknowledged the complaints by the residents and real estate practitioners about turnaround time for permit approval, however challenged the ministry of physical planning and agencies under it to scale up and do better job about physical planning approvals.

He also warned land and property permit approving agencies in the state to live above board, saying his administration would no longer tolerate officers engaging in sharp practices in giving approvals.

“We as a government we have looked at ourselves and said we need to do things differently. That is why we have to sit down with you, one of the areas I know you have problems with us is not only in lands but also physical planning. We need to do a better job of physical planning, we need to do a better job of LASBCA and we need to do a quicker turn around in our lands department, people want to have a positive experience.

“We have started it, we have on this GIS solution for a while, it’s a project we are desirous to go live on, once it kick starts, what it means is that it’s one stop shop . With it you will be able to get your Governor’s Consent, approval and Certificate of Occupancy, on time, all of the documentation for subsequent transaction.” Governor said

Sanwo-Olu noted that having a roof over one’s head is one the critical needs of mankind, saying it is proper for the government and private sector to give priority attention to it.

The governor pointed out that real estate opportunities in the state are boundless waiting to be explored, saying LASRERA, a housing regulatory body becomes imperative to ensure that there is data capturing operators in the industry and the right thing was being done in the sector.

He maintained that the state government is working on all the indices to make Lagos competitive in terms of ease of doing business, especially as Lagos is compared with cities around the world.

Seeking Collaboration

The Special Adviser to Sanwo-Olu on Housing, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, appealed to investors in the real estate sector to team up with the state government to create a home ownership model that will help her address the deficits observed in housing market in the state through the state Public and Private Partnership initiative in providing mass housing for the people.

Benson-Awoyinka also said, ‘As a government determined to bridge the housing deficit in the state, we are aware the role of government in not just the provision of houses alone but also to create an enabling environment for the private sector working hand in hand to a desired end. 

“We will make business thrive and we will relentlessly pursue the sole aim of government which is the protection of lives and property beginning with the provision of decent and affordable housing for the people of our dear state, Lagos.”

Discussion Panel

During the panel discussion, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo said as part of efforts aimed at promoting ease of doing business led to the enactment of the state Property protection law in 2016.

Represented by a director in the ministry, Mrs Kehinde Taiwo, Onigbanjo said the taskforce on land grabbing set up as a result of the law has received over 4300 petitions with over 2000 of such petitions concluded.

The Engu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has presented to the State House of Assembly, the 2021 Budget estimates of N169,845,758,500.00, for consideration and passage.

Presenting the budget proposal tagged: “Budget of Recovery and Continued Growth”, the Governor said that ; ”It is 13.8 percent higher than our revised 2020 budget”.

He explained that ”the budget proposal was carefully designed to strategically enhance the recovery of the state from the drawbacks of 2020, occasioned by the unexpected and unpleasant outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and the negative effects of the #EndSARS protests on the country, “pushing back all the efforts at economic recovery from COVID-19 challenge”.

Gov. Ugwuanyi stated that these setbacks to the full implementation of the 2020 budget ensued shortly after his administration commenced payment of the new Minimum Wage of N30,000 in February this year with its consequential adjustment.

“We had adjusted to this new cost centre and set in motion procurement processes for the delivery of services to Ndi Enugu as appropriated by this Honourable House. Suddenly, we slept in one world and woke up in another, confronted with the unpleasant news of a strange illness – Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19)”, he said.

Governor Ugwuanyi said that the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and pertinent restriction of economic activities across the country caused a significant drop in the global energy demand that led to oil prices crash with huge drop in Statutory Allocation accruing to states in Nigeria, as well as the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which compelled state governments to revise their 2020 approved budgets as directed by the National Economic Council and inspired by World Bank.

On the 2020 budget performance, the Governor said that ”apart from the payment of the N30,000 Minimum Wage to workers, provision of critical road infrastructure in urban and rural areas, interventions in security, judiciary, education, tourism, legislature, religious, agriculture, redevelopment of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Urban water supply, among others, his administration has made huge investment in the health sector/Covid-19 related interventions.”

On the 2021 budget estimates, Governor Ugwuanyi revealed that the projections were predicated on the macro and micro-economic indicators of national inflation rate of 11.95%, national real GDP growth of 3%, oil production benchmark of 1.86 million barrels per day, oil price benchmark of $40 per barrel, and exchange rate of N380 per US dollar.

He further stated that the “Enugu State Medium Expenditure Framework (MTEF) 2021-2023 and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) are aimed at prudent fiscal management coupled with prioritisation of public expenditure”, stressing that “this is focused on achieving a better balance between capital and recurrent expenditures”.

The Governor noted that out of the total budget size of N169.85 billion, the sum of N68.711 billion, representing 40% of the total budget is for Recurrent Expenditure while the sum of N101.1 billion is for Capital Expenditure, representing 60% of the budget size.

Consequently, Governor Ugwuanyi highlighted that the key deliverables of the 2021 capital budget include; rehabilitation of the 9th Mile crash water borehole programme; commencement of AFD-funded 3rd National Urban Water Sector Reform Project; completion and landscaping of International Conference Centre and construction of a flyover Bridge at T-Junction of Nike Lake Resort Road/Nike Road, Enugu.

He stated that the all-important flyover project would necessitate closure of the Nike Lake Resort/Nike Road T-junction and all approach routes to it, saying “preparatory to the project commencement therefore, alternative routes for traffic diversion are being prepared and would be adequately communicated to the public in due course”.

Other key deliverables were the completion of construction of ESUT Teaching Hospital Igbo Eno; installation of Astro-turf & Tartan Tracks, floodlighting with associated Works at Nsukka Stadium, Nsukka LGA; rehabilitation/construction of more Urban and Rural roads; construction of Station Road-Subway Flyover/Underpass to Ogui road with a spur to market road by Red-Cross; construction of additional type III Model Primary Health Centers in Oji River, Aninri, and Awgu LGAs; establishment of Fertilizer blending plant and cottage Rice Mill; completion of the rehabilitation of Enugu Ezike General Hospital and construction of its Amenity Building; integration of Adada Water Scheme and rehabilitation of other Water Schemes in Enugu North Senatorial District, and drilling of new Water boreholes with storage facilities and reticulation across the State.

Expressing profound appreciation to members of the State House of Assembly for their diligence and commitment to the task of taking Enugu State to an enviable height, consistent with our founding fathers’ dream of a peaceful, united, secure and prosperous Enugu State”, Governor Ugwuanyi also appreciated deeply the people of the state “for their unflinching support, cooperation and resilience especially in the face of all the storms of year 2020.

Responding, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly,  Edward Ubosi thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for weathering the storms during the year to ensure that his administration provided the dividends of democracy to the people of the state especially in the rural areas.

The Speaker therefore assured the governor that the House would pay diligent attention to the budget for residents of the state to continue to enjoy peace and good governance.

Mercy Chukwudiebere

Senate has began the legislative process towards the establishment of the Institute of Information and Communication Technology in Uga, Anambra State.

A bill to that effect sponsored by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, which was read for the first time on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 passed second reading on Wednesday this week.

In his lead debate on the piece of legislation, Senator Ubah said; “the institute, when established will carry out scientific and applied research in the area of modern information technology application to optimize processes and decision support systems.”

Besides, the lawmaker said the institute would provide dynamic learning infrastructure with quality education through rigorous teaching and research methodologies in ICT, stressing that it would provide academic programmes with quality curricula focus to forge professionals, experts and scholars in the field of ICT, electronics, software engineering and telemedicine.

Senator Ubah further explained that the institute would aim at fostering such values amongst its academia, undergraduates and graduate scholars, and ensuring a place of pride for our teeming youths in the world of learning.

A copy of the bill obtained by VON, shows that it seeks to provide platforms for modelling, design and control of processes and systems, create single and multi-objective optimisation models, group decision making models, desktop and web-based software systems for information processing, optimisation and decision support. It will enable for research and studies to enhance modelling  for automobile breakthroughs, renewable energy sources and for night vision devices.

It notes that “technology is extremely important in the workplace as a means of communication, today businesses rely on it heavily.”

“Technology allows many businesses to expand more quickly by having the proper means to promote. It is trending now that all businesses have social network websites that would enable service delivery and giving updates to their customers.

“ICT is the trending best practice the world over, and an institute specially designated for this purpose should be a welcome development,” the bill stated.

In his contribution to the debate, Senator Smart Adeyemi sought the support of the Senate for the bill, and called for the establishment of the institute in all the six Geopolitical zones of the country.

Also, Senator Binos Yaroe noted that education remained the bedrock of development of any nation and therefore stressed the need for the government to venture into areas capable of generating employment opportunities and revenues like the ICT and mining, among others into the country.

Mercy Chukwudiebere

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde  says his government is poised to eliminate all forms of violence against women and the girl-child and ensure the safety of lives.

The Governor said that the State would take quick steps to actualise its plans.

He was Speaking during a courtesy visit by members of the National Human Rights Commission, Oyo State Office, held in Ibadan.

Governor Makinde, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka, equally commended the Human Rights community for submitting a communique on the elimination of violence against women and the girl-child.

At the meeting, a communique of the outcome of a 16-day activity by the body to promote the elimination of all forms of violence against women and the girl-child was submitted to the Governor.

According to the communique, the 16-day activity was conducted by the Human Rights body in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, as well as the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, in Oyo State.

Governor Makinde said his administration would always be responsive in the aspect of defending the rights of its indigenes and residents.

“We are happy to work with everyone who wants to make our State what it ought to be. We understand what it is, and we want to move to the ideal. We want to do what is right and that is where each and everyone’s rights will be guaranteed and protected. We want everyone of us to be able to articulate, define, identify their rights and be able to cry out for help when their rights are being violated,” he stated.

Gender-based violence
The Governor said that the State government was already paying particular attention to the issue of gender-based violence, especially against women, stressing that the State House of Assembly was on the verge of passing some legislation on the matter.

He stated, “This is an area that is forever evolving and growing, and this administration is taking particular attention on the issue of violence against women. Having said that, we have to have engagements in the areas of human rights, which is also forward-looking, because the issue of human rights is not restricted to gender.”

The acting Coordinator, Oyo State National Human Rights Commission, Akintayo Olamide, told the Governor that the body marks the International Human Rights Day between November 25 and December 10 every year, noting that the theme for this year is: “Eliminate all forms of violence against women.”

She urged the State government to set up a ‘One-Stop Centre’ for victims, which would include shelters, medical services and trauma and counselling units, that would be equipped with trained personnel, legal assistants and security and also do all it could to eliminate gender-based violence and abuse against women.

Mercy Chukwudiebere