President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mrs. Mercy Iyortyer

Speaking at a forum organised by the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN), event themed: “Economic Recession: the Role of Construction Sector in Post Recession Nigeria”, held at the LCCI, Hall Agidingbi, Ikeja, first Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Kunle Awobodu identified lack of government commitment as factor militating against growth of the building construction industry in Nigeria.

He regretted that the government is giving more support to foreign construction operators than the local ones, foreigners still dominate the Nigerian economy, while their Nigerian counterparts are being neglected.

Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Meckson Okoro, extolled the noble contributions of the association to the development of construction industry.Okoro, the founding Partner/Consultant, M.I.Okoro and Associates, also stressed that foreign construction firms who were given most contracts usually repatriated all their funds back to their countries, adding that the capital flight was injurious to the nation’s economy.

The President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Otis Anyaeji, lamentable that projects have become ‘processes’ because of lack of adherence to completion dates.

Anyaeji , who was represented by the Ikeja Branch Chairman of the Society, Mr Akintayo Akintola said that conditions for award of contacts were usually deliberately made difficult to eliminate local engineers, which makes a nonsense of the Local Content Law to have the participation of indigenous engineers.

Also the President , Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mrs. Mercy Torkwase Iyortyer, identified the attitude of the political class as the cause of economic recession and other challenges faced by the country.

Mrs Iyortyer, who was represented by the Secretary, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Mr Jide Oke, said since infrastructure is very critical to construction , Nigeria must deal with the issue of power.

She stressed that the infrastructure deficit in the nation was huge, adding that the private sector must drive the sector to speed up development.In his submission, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11,  the Ooni of Ife, expressed optimism that the country will definitely gets it right as long as the citizens join hands with government in its policies.

Ooni, who was represented at the event by His Royal Highness, Oba Adebanjo Adedinni Asoya of Isoya, Ife and his counterpart, Oba Adetokunbo Anosunge, Elejesi of Ife Kingdom, assured the organiser of the event his commitment to the course of construction industry, especially, infrastructure provision and housing delivery.

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu<br />

They met in Umuahia, Abia state capital under the platform of “ Abia Urban Thinkers Campus “ (UTC)  in collaboration of Vicar Hope Foundation, a non governmental organization founded and facilitated by the Abia state governor’s wife Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu.

Chairman of the Planning Committee and Permanent Secretary State’s Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Nnenna Chikezie said that the UTC is an initiative of the United Nations housed by UN-Habitat with the aim being to provide better shelter and build resilience and prosperous cities for better livelihood of the people.

She said that the event was an outcome of participation of the delegates led by the state governor’s wife to the 26th Governing Council Meeting of the United Nations - Habitat in Kenya in May 2017, which had the theme “ Implementing The New Urban Agenda”.
 
She said that the stakeholders were at the meeting to initiate action towards upgrading slums and building better cities that will drive the economic growth, adding “It is expected that two-third of world’s population will reside in urban areas by 2030”.

While declaring the meeting open at Hotel Royal Damgrete , Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu decried the neglect of the environment wondering how past administrations of the state handled physical infrastructure development of the cities. He said that 26 years after the state came into being, there has been no masterplan for the three major cities of Aba, Ohafia and Umuahia, the state capital.
 
The governor charged the participants to come up with pragmatic measures that could help to upgrade the slums and transform the urban towns into better and prosperous cities, think about the environment and how to achieve a better place for human habitation.

“UTC challenges us to think more seriously about our environment. We need to preserve our environment for our present and future generations. If you do not take care of your environment, your environment will kill you,” he said.

Mrs. Ikpeazu who is the founder of Vicar Hope Foundation, expressed optimism that the UTC “ will instigate congruent actions that result in the cities of our dreams and called on the participants to dedicate to bringing out the best ideas and realizable action plans that would help turn around conditions of cities and make them cleaner, safer, functional and more profitable to dwellers and visitors.”

UN-HABITAT Programme Manager in Nigeria, Mr. Kabir Yari, who was represented by a member of the UN Steering Committee on Making Cities Resilient, Dr Steve Onu, said that the meeting was targeted at managing urbanization, adding that it/meeting would come out with the roadmap on how to tackle the challenges posed by rapid population growth in the urban centres.

The Nigerian Valuation Standards to be known as ‘Green Book’, which has been under preparation for several months now, was adopted from the International Valuation Standards (IVS) and aimed at instilling public confidence in the valuation process.

“When eventually published, it will assist valuers to demonstrate that the profession is regulated, not in a purely bureaucratic sense, but that they perform their task in an organized manner, not maverick or inspirational, that they take care to educate themselves, and that they are subject to discipline, “ Alonge added.

A statement issued yesterday by the governor’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said that the roads would open up the rural areas and ease transportation difficulties faced by farmers in moving farm produce to urban centres.

Sokoto State Executive Council has approved the sum of over N1.5 billion for construction, rehabilitation and expansion of a number of rural roads across the state.

A statement issued yesterday by the governor’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said that the roads would open up the rural areas and ease transportation difficulties faced by farmers in moving farm produce to urban centres.

It also said that the roads would open up the rural areas and ensure access to quality life, while at the same time helping to tackling poverty.

According to the statement, the roads include the 11km Gidan Sarki to Dabagi to Ambarura road in Illela LGA at the cost of N200 million; upgrading and tarring of the 18km Kebbe to Ungushi road at the cost of N409 million and construction of the Gwadabawa-Cimola feeder road at the total cost of N202 million.

“Others include construction of 25 km feeder road to link Kwanar Bawa to Gidan Dadi to Kwannawa to Kwacce Huro to Arabar Birni to Arabar Daji to Gidima and eventually to Kalanjeni at the cost of N242 million.”

National Project Coordinator for NEWMAP, Salisu Dahiru explained at the 2017 World Space Week in Abuja that the amount was spent on resettlement of loss lands, houses, economic trees, among others.

To check gully erosion, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, (NEWMAP) has spent a total sum of N865million to 1,337 Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) in the country.

National Project Coordinator for NEWMAP, Salisu Dahiru explained at the 2017 World Space Week in Abuja that the amount was spent on resettlement of loss lands, houses, economic trees, among others.

He disclosed that over N140million was expended as grant to 4,194 beneficiaries on livelihood enhancement activities, while fuel efficient cooking stoves were also distributed to communities in 21 states.

“There has been a positive progress in various activities with Hydro met and Automated Flood Early Warning system included in the project, such as installation of 19 meteorological stations in AIRBDA and CRBDA”, he said.

Dahiru stressed that the space week will provide a forum for China, India and Nigeria, and World Bank to interact and discuss best practices in geospatial technology and transfer of applied research and development results.

“We have benefited from a wide range of experts from Chinese and India governments, in terms as academic, and watershed and producer groups for infrastructure and climate smart agriculture”, he added.

He further expressed delight that NEWMAP has in less than five years recorded evidence-based success stories in improving the livelihoods of Nigerians thereby impacting positively to environmental sustainability.

On his part, the World Bank representative, Dr. Kofi Nouve expressed delight to work with Nigeria in convening a knowledge fair to share South-South experiences across China, India, and Nigeria as well as showcase other examples of global good practice.

The first phase comprises La Mer North and La Mer South, which has over 130 hundred shops, cafés, restaurants, and beach activities, that act as a meeting point for people to enjoy a great time, whether they are visiting La Mer to eat, play or unwind.

La Mer, a world-class beachfront developed by Meraas to diversify the fabric of Dubai’s offering to visitors and residents, has opened its first phase to the public.

Stretching out into the ocean from the prestigious Jumeira 1 neighbourhood, the breath-taking destination promises to be an inspiring environment, while setting a new global benchmark for beachfront developments with its uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf and iconic city skyline. Spanning 13.4 million square feet of existing and reclaimed land, and located between Pearl Jumeira and Jumeira Bay.

La Mer offers a unique lifestyle that complements one of the most sought-after districts in Dubai. Spread over three areas – La Mer South, La Mer North and The Wharf – La Mer takes its inspiration from the way the sea embraces driftwood, timber, rusted metal, barrels and other items, brought by the tide to shore, many of which form the main elements of the built-up environment. This theme is visible through the architecture and public spaces, creating a welcoming and carefree place where people can feel at ease and celebrate life from the moment they set foot in the destination.

Surrounded by almost 2.5 kilometres of relaxing sandy beaches and situated a stone’s throw away from points of interest such as the Etihad Museum and the Dubai Water Canal, the shopping, dining and entertainment areas at La Mer will open to the public in two phases. The first phase comprises La Mer North and La Mer South, which has over 130 hundred shops, cafés, restaurants, and beach activities, that act as a meeting point for people to enjoy a great time, whether they are visiting La Mer to eat, play or unwind.

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa State

The last may not have been heard of the move by the Nasarawa Government to depose all its property outside the state, as Peoples Democratic Party alleged that its an attempt by the state governor, Umaru Almakura to buy up the property with his associates.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its executive council meeting in Lafia, the PDP in Nasarawa State alleged that the assets in question located in Kaduna, Jos, Lagos and in the state, are investment property, which has yielded over N7billion above the purchasing price of N40million.

The party further alleged that attempt by Governor Almakura and his commissioner of Finance Ayuba Dogara to liquidate the Nasarawa Investment and Property Development Limited is not in accordance with the company and allied matter act.

“All the state expect from Almakura is for him to add value to the company and other landed property and assets to leave them in good state to create employment for the teaming citizens of the state and generate revenue for the state. Rather than using his cronies to do so now that it is difficult to launder ill-gotten funds outside the country under the watch of president Muhammedu Buhari even though some of them think being members of the ruling party they are immuned”.

“It is necessary to point out that Nasarawa Investment Property Development Company Limited was established with then responsibility of performing a catalytic role, and serving as an engine of industrial growth and development the state with a mission to strategically place the state in a position of strength to effectively promote economic activities for the wellbeing of the citizens of the state”.

The communiqué warned individuals, groups and corporate bodies who may have been contacted in respect of any of the properties and assets to desist from doing so in their own interest as the matter shall be revisited even if allowed to proceed.

But the Chairman of the ruling APC in the state, Mr. Tatari Chekwo said the decision of the state government to close down the investment companies was basically to relieve the state of unneccesary financial burdens and losses.

“It is however regrettable that the PDP and APGA in the state rather than engaging the state in constructive opposition has resorted to attacking, casting aspersion in persons. We warn them to desist from this”, he said.

housing estate in Lagos

Developmental experts have called for a shift from existing conventional housing finance to cooperative and sustainable mortgage financing culture, which aid in inclusive housing.

They spoke at the Lagos Development Envison Lab (LAGDEL) hosted by the Arctic Infrastructure and the Heinrich Boll Stiftung Nigeria in which young professionals in the built environment and youth from different low-income communities in Lagos were pre selected.

Leading the call at the event, which also brought together community groups and professionals under the same knowledge platform, project director, AI, Mr. Lookman Oshodi underscored the relevance of the programme to the future governance, administration and management of large city like Lagos by bringing youth from different background together to review common challenges and predict future of the city.

He said the programme was conceptualized to close the huge gap observed in the human capacity to effect development changes that could respond to the needs of the majority of the residents while modeling different development scenarios for the city of Lagos in the next 15 to 20 years.

According to him, the Lab focused on “Housing in the Larger Development of Lagos”.  The four day residence training programme brought together selected talented youth from informal settlements with young professionals from the built environment to share knowledge on the fundamental problems and alternative development strategies for the city of Lagos.

The Masters Students of the Department of Architecture, Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Stuttgart, Germany joined the youth in the programme.

In his remark, Mrs. Monika Umunna of Heinrich Boll Stiftung Nigeria outlined inclusive housing approach for the city of Lagos as one of the recommendations of the Lab.

Earlier, the General Manager of Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, Mr. Lateef Sholebo said the agency is studying tax credit finance mechanism to be considered in the funding of urban regeneration and redevelopment projects in Lagos.

Also the Lagos State Commissioner of Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal represented by Assistant Director in the Ministry, Muritala Balogun, said the newly introduced Rent to Own and Rental Housing policies of Lagos State are designed to ensure adequate housing for residents of Lagos State.

Mercury Pollution

In a landmark display of international cooperation, more than 160 countries committed to tackling one of the world’s greatest chemical health threats at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

The world’s first environmental and health treaty in a decade saw many countries pledge political and financial support to help reduce and eliminate mercury, a heavy metal affecting the health of millions of people worldwide from Guyana and Kiribati, to Uganda and Japan.

In her opening speech, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Doris Leuthard, described the Minamata Convention as a success of multilateralism, “The Minamata Convention is a global solution to a global challenge. From now on the name Minamata will no longer only be associated with a problem, but with a solution,” she said.

Opening the high-level segment, Erik Solheim Head of UN Environment said that in order to really address the mercury challenge solutions had to be integrated into public health and environmental strategies at all levels - from local to international - and embodied into the wider pollution control agenda. He called on ministers and delegates to use the tragic legacy of Minamata to propel the convention forward.

A high level panel debate opened by the President of Guyana featuring the Head of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Naoko Ishii, Erik Solheim, the Head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, the Head of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and representatives from the United Nations Development Programme also drew attention to mercury use in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining which accounts for up to 20% of the world’s gold supply.

Through the Global Opportunities for Long-term Development (GEF GOLD) programme, the GEF will provide funds to eight countries with a sizable gold mining sector, and where many artisanal miners still rely on mercury for gold extraction. The funding amounts to US$45.2 million and will be managed by implementing agencies, including UN Environment to support policies and market incentives that favour gold which uses less or no mercury in its extraction.

Several guidelines were adopted, in particular for the regulation of artisanal gold-mining and the reduction of mercury emissions in this sector. The States will receive support to enable them to gain a better understanding of the informal artisanal gold-mining sector and to make optimal use of the available state-of-the- art technology. Another guideline specifies how the atmospheric mercury emissions generated by coal-fired power plants, waste incineration plants and cement plants can be reduced.

Generating sets fumes

Nigeria needs to check its fast-rising air pollution statistics, measures need to be put in place to appropriately monitor air quality, says Temitope Victor Amusa, an environmentalist and zero-waste advocate. He called for new models that will set Nigeria on the route of becoming an environmentally sustainable nation.

For decades, the problem of power generation has crippled many developing nations across Africa, the erratic and likewise epileptic way the megawatts of power generated fluctuates in Nigeria coupled with the huge sums on record to have so far been invested in the power sector leaves a lot of unanswered questions on the lips and hearts of residents.

Due to the relative importance of power in contemporary urban society, a lot of homes generate their own power at least to meet their basic demands, much thanks to the different array of electricity generating sets available to individuals and organizations to choose from regardless of economical divides -either rich or poor there is a category of electricity generating set that fits.

In recent times, a lot of calls have been made to the government on the need for increased budgetary allocations and implementation of transport infrastructure especially fixed installations like roads, railways, and terminals such as airports, railway stations, jetties, and seaports. These infrastructure would not have been necessary if there is no pressing need for transportation of persons and haulage of goods to fulfill the ever-demanding quest for industrialization and civilization.

The United Nations Environment Programme in its reports recently presented a staggering fact, stating that pollution of the air, freshwater, oceans, and land kills more than 12 million people every year – that is nearly one in four deaths worldwide. Pollution also threatens vulnerable wildlife and plants and can devastate the entire ecosystems.

Further estimates show that each year over 6.5 million people die prematurely because of poor air quality, while some are attributed to indoor air pollution from cooking mostly in low and middle-income countries, quite a high percentage of these deaths are largely owed to respiratory infections caused by air pollution. About 600,000 deaths in Africa are traceable to poor air quality premised on air pollution.

Nigeria with a population of over 180 million people and a status of developing nation is exploring every aspect of civilization in a great deal, over 80 million Nigerians own either an electricity generating set or a means of transportation like automobiles.

Regrettably, these generating sets and automobiles all depend on fossil fuels for their operation. Another sad news is that Nigeria’s electricity consumption per capita is the lowest in Africa as over 80 percent of about 30 million households in the country lack access to electricity from the national grid. The economic implication of this amounts to about N9 trillion spent annually on fueling automobiles and generating sets as industrialization and civilization largely demands.

Although Nigeria lacks any standard national emission inventory like developed nations, which shows the contributory indices of pollution sources and emissions, it is estimated that two of the main sources of air pollution are generating sets and automobiles

The proliferation of electricity generating sets have grown to an alarming level due to the continuous dwindling power generation in the country, the use of generators indiscriminately has also worsened situations of air pollution in Nigeria.

Studies reveal that people across the globe are breathing air that contains dangerous pollutants, it is believed that the levels of fine particulates known as PM2.5 exceed the WHO limit of 10 micrograms (μg) per cubic meter of air by at least half.

World Health Organisation suggests that 10 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5 should be a guideline level for safe air. Of a truth, not all cities collect good enough data to be measured in the situation of air pollution, however, during the study of air quality, the size of particles found in the air was taken into cognizance.

According to the World Health Organisation, a lot of attention is placed upon particles of a PM2.5 size, which is around one-30th the size of a human hair. The worrisome part of this revelation is because these particles have the ability to enter blood tissue and lungs thereby causing serious health problems.

The recent sad news is that quite a number of Nigerian cities - Onitsha, Kaduna, Aba and Umuahia now rank on the list of the Most Polluted Cities in the World the imperatives of which is that more Nigerians are now very much exposed to air pollution at a level exceeding WHO recommendation.

There is no region of the world that is exempted from the threats of dwindling air quality occasioned by air pollution but people in poor settings and low-income settlements are worst hit. Close to 80per cent of residents of urban areas are daily exposed to poor air quality at levels exceeding World Health Organization limits mostly as a result of exhausts from automobiles and industrial turbines, the peculiarity of low-income settings is that activities like waste burning, use of electricity generating set, use of wood for cooking and even automobile exhausts also contribute to the already threatened wholesome living of the population.

Implications of decline in urban air quality increase in the cases of chronic and acute respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer and even increased the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Dr. Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant-Director General, Family, Women and Children’s Health in the Geneva release of 2016 said “Air pollution is a major cause of disease and death. It is good news that more cities are stepping up to monitor air quality, so when they take actions to improve it they have a benchmark”. Developing nations especially in Africa need to take convincing steps at monitoring air quality, informed decisions are driven by requisite data, actions are not purposeful if there are no clear-cut impact targets.

Nigeria needs to check its fast-rising air pollution statistics, measures need to be put in place to appropriately monitor air quality. The number of casualties from inhalation of toxic fumes of generator has spiked at very alarming proportions in the last decade, on a weekly basis news media report cases of carbon monoxide poisoning leading to tragic deaths, in most cases a whole family gets killed over the night as a result of inhalation of exhaust fumes from generators.

The spate of asthmatic attacks in homes where fossil fuels like kerosene or wood are burnt for cooking is likewise disturbing, not to mention the susceptibility of residents in urban areas to lung cancer and other upper respiratory tract health conditions.

In the words of Dr Carlos Dora, a renowned epidemiologist and Interventions for Healthy Environments unit coordinator at World Health Organization “It is crucial for city and national governments to make urban air quality a health and development priority,” He further submitted that, “When air quality improves, health costs from air pollution-related diseases shrink, worker productivity expands and life expectancy grows”

Most, if not all sources of outdoor air pollution are far beyond what individuals have control over, it is imperative for local, national and even international stakeholders and environment decision-makers to press for cleaner transport measures, less fossil fuel burning through cleaner energy advocacies and cleaner waste collection and disposal methods that enshrine zero waste burning policy and emission regulations for industries.

There is a glimmer of hope across the global stage as Paris recently announced that all vehicles with petrol or diesel engines are to be banned from Paris from 2030 under a swift anti-pollution plan tabled by the capital’s Socialist council. Joining in the radical environment protection stand are Britain and China both of which have also pledged to ban sales of petrol and diesel engine cars and vans by 2040 in their respective countries.

On a national scale, Nigeria needs to increase the use of renewable sources of power by exploring its vast resources in the area of solar and wind, great priority should be given to inter- and intra- city rapid bus transit, with fewer vehicles on our roads, our toxic exhaust coefficient will also reduce considerably. Other explorable areas are in cycling and walking.

There is a need for very urgent decisive action on staring down Air Pollution across Nigeria. Some states warn residents against waste burning but it has to go beyond the pages of newspapers, effective enforcement needs to be in place to ensure compliance.

At this level in our National life there should be definite strategic policies in place to drive good air quality and monitor the levels of pollutants in the air per cubic meter of our cities, slums and rural areas alike, as every Nigerian life counts.

There should be stiffer regulations on industrial air pollution as carbon pricing and emission tax should be enforced to encourage manufacturers and players in the industrial space to seek cleaner energy sources. Incentives should also be made available in the form of emission tax cuts and clean energy rankings for industries and manufacturers doing a great bit of environmental friendly industrialization.

Much is expected however as regards how stakeholders and policymakers will chat a robust strategic action plan that will enshrine sustainability in these two necessities of urbanization – Power and transportation, even as Nigeria strives to make good its pledge to environmental protection and sustainability by its subscription to the Paris agreement.

It is worth mentioning, that in actualizing this dream of a sustainable framework, every Nigerian must set a renewed drive for protecting the environment one step at a time, simple lifestyle changes like cooking with biofuels and other cleaner fuels, boarding urban transit buses to work, joining networks of renewable energy users and enthusiasts, recycling and upcycling non-organic waste, composting of organic waste, saying no to waste burning, owning and using bicycles, and making rural dwellers explore other sources of income like wildlife conservation, forests and games reserves other than making of charcoal or illegal lumbering will yield positive results.

Together with politicians, academia, giant business entities and social enthusiasts we can all define models that set Nigeria on the route of becoming an environmentally sustainable nation.

• Amusa is the Chief Executive Officer, Vicfold Recyclers.

Mainland Garden

Concern remained high at the weekend that off-plan sales strategies, which have become popular among property developers may be taking its tolls on prospective subscribers as complaints are mounting within the authorities, following the plights of subscribers of Property Mart Real Estate Investment Limited, in Magodo over an alleged ill treatment in the Mainland Garden scheme situated in Papalanto road, Ofada, Mowe in Ogun State.

About 20 subscribers were introduced to the scheme ten years ago as one of the best investments estimated to appreciate at between 200 per cent and 250 per cent per annum.

Specifically, the subscribers besieged the company’s office recently to register their grievances. Their grouses include: ONE: Lack of documentation after full payments, which included survey fee, documentation fee. TWO: The issuance of backdated letter of allocation. THREE: Delayed physical allocation of land and in some cases, allocation of different plots from ones not shown or ones that are not within the Mainland Gardens. FOUR: Non-issuance of survey plans at full payment for plots.

One of the aggrieved subscribers, Taofeek Abdulmalik has already petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, ZONE 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos against Property Mart on allegation of obtaining money by false pretence.

In the letter, Abdulmalik said he subscribed sometime in 2009 to the company during their promo for two plots of land in the total sum of N1.1 million payable over a period of time. “I immediately commenced installment payment for the two plots. Subsequently, I requested for an inspection but my request was stalled and I stopped all payments pending the inspection.

“I was thereafter contacted sometime in December 2011- January 11, 2012 to come for an inspection and I was taken to the two plots of land allocated to me at Mainland Garden. On April 7, 2014, I made final payment for the two plots of land and a receipt was issued indicating full and final payment.

“Further to that, I also made payment for survey fee in the sum of N300, 000 and N40, 000 as documentation fee. However, to my utmost shock and disbelief, no documentation was done and there was no sign that anything was to be done.

“I made several calls and wrote letters expressing my displeasure but to no avail. Instead, a provisional letter of allocation was issued to me. I decided to write again on May 30, 2015, which was almost a year after the provisional letter was sent; it was also a futile effort.

“On September 14, 2015, I wrote another letter to the company further expressing my displeasure and a letter of allocation was eventually issued, backdated to July 9, 2015.

“It was at that point I realized that the company deliberately and fraudulently back dated the Letter. Also the survey for the plots was not made available at the time the letter of allocation was given to me despite full payment for both. After a lot of pressure on my part, a drawing was eventually made available with no signature from either the management or the surveyor or government official.

“Though the description of the landed property was on it, which indicated that it was for two plots of land at Mainland Garden Estate, Ofada , Mowe Ogun State.
“Despite several calls and messages for physical allocation of the land in November, 2015, I was only given the contact of the Company’s Surveyor, one Mr. Bankole for physical allocation and this was done on January 21, 2016.

“In fact, I went with my builder for immediate commencement of construction on the land. On getting the site for physical allocation of the land, I discovered that it was different from that shown to me earlier. I began to question the surveyor who told me that the land he was instructed to allocate to me doesn’t fall under the Mainland Gardens and that he thought I was properly briefed at the office.

“I was highly disappointed and felt deflated when we got to a place that has just been cleared and was totally different from the place earlier shown to me by the company.

“This however prompted my making enquiries from people and I came into the knowledge that the company had fraudulently received monies from quite a number of people for a non-existing land. I tried to independently purchase a plot of land around there but realized that the value of land there had doubled considerably”, he said.

Abdulmalik , is therefore calling for the recovery his money, alleging that it was fraudulently obtained by Property Mart Real Estate investment Limited in the total sum of N5.440 million , being the total sum of N1.440 million collected by the Company and the sum of N4 million being the additional monies required to purchase two plots of land independently around the area.

He stressed that the money represents his saved up pension and other accrued annuities. “This organization is fraudulent and all effort to get my allocation so far as proven abortive”, he lamented

Reacting to this development, a senior staff of Property Mart , Tobi Osho, said the organisation is working an amicable resolution of the compliant of Mainland Garden subscribers.

He said series of meetings have been held with the subscribers in this regard as the main issue was that many of them were not keen at developing their land.

He reiterated that the company remains a leader in off- plan development in real estate with many projects to attest to that. Another subscriber also confirmed that they are meeting with the firm to resolve the dispute.

An illustration of the proposed Le Moriah Residences, Lekki, Lagos

If the projections of a Lagos-based estate construction company come to pass, the firm will by June next year, commission a estate comprising 50 units of luxurious apartments located in Ikate Elegushi, along the Victoria Island – Lekki corridor.

Tagged ‘Le Moriah Residences’, the project is a baby of Moriah Altura Limited and will on completion, sit on two acres of land from the Elegushi family and covered by a governor’s consent by the Lagos State government.

The scheme comes as a contemporary urban lifestyle estate consisting of different types of spacious two, three and four bed apartments and mezzanine pent houses designed for functionality and aesthetics.

The project is located at 7.4 kilometers from the Lekki Admiralty Toll gate and 8.5 kilometers to the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge 6.1 kilometers to the Conservation Toll gate with retail shopping and streams of commercial activities.

Dubbed by its promoters as a haven of affordable luxury, the estate comes with stand-by power supply, children playground, swimming pool, access control, ample parking, professional security and CCTV, creche, laundry and intercom.

Already, the construction work on the estate has reached roofing level about 80per cent. Structural work will be completed in December and entire project consists of three blocks of residential serviced apartments and a block for services, and project delivery is fixed for May 2018 while actual handover will be June.

Prospective subscribers have opportunity for milestone payments. “This premium design and construction provides owner with the pride and peace of ownership of this address.  The carefully selected finishes add to the overall style uniqueness of this estate,” according to Paul Umogbai, Managing Director, Moriah Altura Limited.

He explained that “Le Moriah Residence is a place to live the urban modern life surrounded by a wide variety of shopping malls, entertainment hubs, dining, business, banking and recreational spaces.”

Umogbai said this is the best opportunity this year to secure a home in the sought after area of Lekki. “The location is right for reasonable return on investments and attraction for medium as well as high- income earners, who will want the return on their investment within the shortest possible time.

“The Lagos State Government has signed an investment deal with the City of Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the creation of Africa’s first smart city. With the signing of the memorandum of understanding, Lagos will be the historic home of the very first smart city in Africa. This multi-billion dollar investment is expected to create thousands of jobs and transform the Ibeju-Lekki axis in particular and the entire Lagos state in general,” he added.

Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril

With climate negotiators set to gather in Bonn four weeks time for international consideration of the guidelines to implement the Paris agreement across a wide range of issues, the Federal Government has began preparatory activities to acquaint delegates with agenda of the summit and national position in the negotiations.

Nigeria signed and ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, which shows its commitment for climate action and investment in sustainability as well as developed the National Determined Contribution for five priority areas.

This year’s climate change summit under the auspices of at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate (UNFCCC) 23rd conference of parties (COP23), presents opportunities for countries to deliberate on the rule book on   issues such as transparency, adaptation, emissions reductions, finance, capacity building and technology.

The nation’s delegates were recently brought together at a National Stakeholders Meeting Preparatory to COP23 in Abuja, organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment, where the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shehu Ahmed reiterated that the conference is a clarion call to serve and defend the interest of the nation in the negotiation.

“It is by no means a jamboree, thus participation must be based in functionality with clear justification. I want all intended delegates to acquaint themselves of the agenda of the conference and status of the negotiations in all thematic areas. These must be juxtapose with National position to be presented and defended at the conference,” he said.

Ahmed said the government is at the threshold of launching its Sovereign Green Bond, which will enable capital raising and investments for new and existing projects with environmental benefits as well as developing projects to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund.

The Director, Department of Climate Change, Dr. Yerima Peter Tarfa, explained that Nigeria negotiators will be aligning with the Africa group stand, which includes operationalization of adaptation as provided under the Convention through elaborating the global goal for adaptation of the agreement; elaboration of guidance for adaptation communications, including as a component of NDCs and information on needs and associated costs; provision of support needed to implement adaptation action as well as for the formulation, update and implementation of adaptation communications, including as a component of NDCs.

Also on the front burner in the negotiations are accelerated efforts by developed countries to mobilize at least USD 100 billion per year by 2020, and the need to significantly increase finance for adaptation by doubling adaptation finance to address the immediate needs of African countries.

Other priorities areas he listed include, the need of initiating the negotiation for the new collective quantified financial goal from developed countries with a floor of USD 100 billion per year prior to 2025 as provided in decision 1/CP.21 para 54, taking into account the lengthy and complicated access/disbursement rules and procedures.

Developing modalities for the Biennial Communications of Indicative Support, primarily from public financial resources from developed countries as envisaged in Article 9.5 of the Paris Agreement.

Tarfa however said the challenges have been to balance negotiations across all Paris Agreement provisions, including those under its work programme and the need to accelerate the mandated work to the SBSTA, SBI and constituted bodies to ensure its coherent, balanced and fair completion.

“Maintaining the political momentum for climate action, due to the withdrawal of the USA from the Paris Agreement. African countries’ additional task to work with partners and other developing countries for a smooth continuation of the negotiations under the Paris Agreement.”

A collapsed building in Admiraty way, Lekki, Lagos

Members of the Association of Building Consultants and Artisans of Nigeria (ASBAN) have attributed incessant cases of building collapse to cheap labour and incompetent artisans in the building sector.

The National President, Jimmy Oshinubi, disclosed this while addressing exhibitors at the Door, Window, Glass, Aluminium and Façade Exhibition (DoWin) held in Lagos.

Oshinubi said that many artisans who are contracted in building construction have outdated experiences and therefore are not in tune with the latest building techniques.

He said: “There has been complaint from general public that artisans are not qualified, that they have outdated experiences. Some of them have learnt these trades for the past 30 years and their experiences are outdated. What they learnt those days when they learnt the trade is different from what is happening today so we have to update their experiences.

“We have been experiencing a lot of building collapses in Nigeria and when these things happen, it falls back on the artisans. But the public forgets that most of the building owners pick their artisans on the road.

“If you go to Iyana-Ipaja, you see artisans sitting there so when you pick them and they do shoddy jobs for you, you don’t come back to us and say artisans are incompetent. The Togolese and Beninese artisans in Nigeria are very cheap because an average artisan in Nigeria will not collect less than N5, 000 a day but these foreigners are ready to collect N2, 000 because by the time they convert to their currency, it is a lot of money.”

Oshinubi explained that the association is retraining members regularly.   He said, “with new ideas coming up in the building sector, we admonished the government to do more in encouraging youths to learn handwork by giving construction jobs to local contractors and paying them well rather than allowing youths to ride commercial motorcycle.”

“We assess the competence of our members by giving them jobs to do. There are some who can only handle jobs of N500, 000 and there are those who can handle jobs worth N1million and above.

“If we don’t encourage the youths to learn trade, these trades will be vanishing. We don’t want government to give jobs to foreigners. Let us encourage the youths to learn these trades. They need to be motivated, if they are not paid well, they will not want to learn it. We have been educating the youths on the need to have handwork and hardworking rather than riding commercial motorcycles.

“We have been discussing with the government to patronize us in youth empowerment. In Europe, plumbers earn $75 per hour but here in Nigeria, a plumber is paid N3, 000 per day so we are trying to see how we can increase their income.”

Two influential UN-related wildlife bodies are proposing to join forces on a new initiative to halt the serious decline of Africa’s great carnivores.

The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will submit their plan to the CMS COP12 wildlife summit in Manila later this month. Proposals for inclusion of the Lion and Leopard on CMS Appendix II will also be discussed at the meeting.

The African Carnivores Initiative follows on from the CMS-CITES Joint Work Programme 2015-2020, which has been agreed by both Conventions.  If adopted, it is intended to become a shared platform for the implementation of resolutions and decisions on lions, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs under both CMS and CITES*. The two conventions would look to pool their resources and expertise in a drive to deliver concrete action and policy guidance in tandem with other organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

CMS and CITES have already cooperated in bringing all African Lion Range States together in Uganda in May 2016 to identify the key measures needed to conserve lions across Africa. CITES COP17 also adopted a set of decisions on the conservation and management of the Lion and the Wild Dog, which call for the collaboration of the two Conventions.

Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of CMS said: “Time is running out for Africa’s iconic carnivores. As sister organizations, CMS and CITES will seek to reap the synergies that exist to save the continent’s remaining big cats and wild dogs.”

John Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES said: “Africa’s carnivores are among the most widely recognized and admired animals in the world. Today these charismatic predators are facing many and varied threats to their survival in the wild. However, this crisis can still be averted, and CITES and CMS, the world’s two international wildlife conventions, are joining forces to better respond to these threats, for the benefit of people and wildlife.”

According to IUCN, the African Lion, Cheetah, Leopard and Wild Dog are in constant – and sometimes severe - decline across the African continent, except for Lions in Southern Africa, where there has been a slight increase.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, assesses the extinction risk of a species according to specific criteria.

The 2015 Red List assessment of the African Lion suggests that Lion populations overall have experienced a decline of 43 per cent between 1993 and 2014. The classification of the species in the IUCN Red List remains Vulnerable, noting that most populations outside of Southern Africa (including Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe) are assessed as Endangered (East and Central Africa) or Critically Endangered (West Africa).

Despite challenges in estimating exact figures for the abundance of the Cheetah across Africa due to the scarcity and the naturally wide range of the species, the 2015 IUCN Red List Assessment estimates a 30 per cent population decrease over the past 15 years based on the established parallel decline in Cheetah habitat. The Cheetah is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and as Critically Endangered in North-West Africa. According to a recent study, the classification of Vulnerable might not be appropriate given that 77 per cent of Cheetahs occur outside of protected areas and are therefore not included in population assessments. Since the Cheetah faces multiple threats outside of protected areas, scenario modelling has shown that the extinction rate might be significantly higher than in protected areas and would require a classification of Endangered for Cheetah on the IUCN Red List.

The 2016 IUCN Red List Assessment for the Leopard estimates a decrease of over 30 per cent in populations across Sub-Saharan Africa over the past 21 years, in line with severe declines in prey species and the expansion of agricultural land. The decline in West and East Africa is estimated at more than 50 per cent. The Leopard thus falls within the classification of Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, having been uplisted from the classification of Near Threatened in 2015.

The Wild Dog is classified as Endangered under the 2012 IUCN Red List Assessment. Although data deficiency complicates population estimates, the IUCN Assessment estimates that an overall decline of 17 per cent took place between 1997 and 2012. The decline was most pronounced in Central Africa and Southern Africa, where populations decreased by around 26 per cent over the same timeframe.

Experts say that carnivores are vulnerable to a number of threats, as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation due to expanded human settlements and agricultural activities; conflict with humans protecting their livestock; a decline in the numbers of animals on which they prey; and unsustainable and illegal trade in specimens of large carnivores. As a result, the Lion only occurs in 17 per cent, the Cheetah in 9 per cent, the Leopard in 51 per cent and the Wild Dog in 6 per cent of their historic range across Africa.

PHOTO: Cadwell Limited

With an eye toward expanding its discerning clientele, an indigenous real estate development firm dedicated to creating exclusive lifestyles - Cadwell Limited, has shifted its business focus to property investment, partnerships and estate services.

Under the new vision, several partnership models such as property acquisition, design, development or re-development, equity participation, estate agency and facility management will now be explored by the company in both the public and private sectors in order to optimise allocation of resources and activities, create new revenue streams, expand product categories geared for optimal returns.

The company had developed premium real estates that have yielded decent return on investment with average 15 -20 per cent annual capital growth while maintaining high occupancy rate. Its signature rests on classic to neo-classic architectural significance.

Cadwell homes come with elements of stylish attention to details, elegant lifestyle, comfort, safety and security with key design feature being a testimony of their commitment to quality designs and pure craftsmanship.

Already, the company has redesigned  – The Cadwell Logo. The new logo describes their business angles such as property investments, partnerships and estate services.

According to Nekpen Emokpae, Head, Concepts and Marketing, Cadwell Limited, “Our strong reputation over the years in securing credible clientele helps us maintain a high absorption rate while providing guaranteed returns.  After many years we have become leading real estate investment experts, offering personalized investment advice to meet the needs and achieve the goals of our clients, who get so much return on investment they often become lifetime partners and friends”

The Head of Business Development, Timeyin Arawore said:  “One of the major benefits of our intended partnerships is to strengthen the company’s resolve to provide exclusive lifestyles for our clients through the continuous improvement in the quality of our products/services which will guarantee a lifetime of steady returns on investment for our partners. Cadwell will now be working in tandem with the state, entities and individuals with similar ethos and values towards Infinite Investment.

The Head of Corporate Communications, Omotara Fagbuyi, further explained that the brand intends to heighten its equity through the timely launch of its change the narrative campaign - Investment Testaments. The campaign will highlight powerful and profound quotes from notable international world leaders in business and politics who have had fair experience in real estate investments.

She added that the campaign will further emphasis the great shift in the investment focus of the Company while encouraging existing and potential partners to taking action in the hope of raising future revenue for next generations.

Fagbuyi said: “Investments made in Cadwell properties offer investors an opportunity in return-driven assets which do not only have economic merit but also complements long term investment plan.”

Deforestation

A professor of Palynology and Paleoecology from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Olugbenga Ebenezer Ige, has decried the continued destruction of the nation’s vegetation and forest.

Ige who delivered the 11th Inaugural Lecture of the university, titled: “Wanted! Dead and Alive: Palynomorphs as Microscopic Signal to the Past and Present”, expressed an urgent need to reverse the wanton destruction of vegetation particularly forest where over 90 per cent of biodiversity is domiciled.

According to him, without vegetation there would be no palynology, the study of pollen grains and spores of plants. “Nearly all vegetation in Nigeria had been degraded and the Tropical rainforest is fast becoming derived savannah. About 30 per cent of earth’s land surface is covered by forests but deforestation is taking place at an alarming rate in the last 80 years.”

This, he attributed, to “the increasing attitude of our people in construction of roads, industrialisation, urbanisation, lumbering, among others. This is putting palynology in great danger.

“Nigeria is one of the 37 countries listed as having Low Forest Cover with High Rates of Deforestation (LFHD). The effort of the Forest guards and rangers in Nigeria should be improved so as to effectively manage our forest.”

He lamented that the removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in damage to habitat, biodiversity loss and aridity with adverse impacts on bio-sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

He stressed that that, as a matter of urgency, extensive afforestation campaign should be launched in the interest of environmental protection.

Prof. Ige urged the government to enforce a policy of “One Man One Tree” approach for sustainability of the nations forests, noting that in many parts of the world, especially in East Asian countries, reforestation and afforestation are increasing the area of forested lands.

Without mincing words, the Professor disclosed his modest contribution to AAUA by planting many trees on an expanse of land in the Year 2010, enthusing that the portion of land is covered with beautiful vegetation.

He lauded the immediate past government of Ondo State for doing a lot through its urban renewal initiatives, recommending the policy to all the three tiers of government in the country.

Moreover, the Inaugural Lecturer tasked the National Assembly to promulgate and enforce Nigeria’s environment act in order to check the incessant flooding in some parts of the country.

“To stem down agitation and militancy in the Niger Delta area of the country, the clearing of Ogoni land started by the Federal Government should be intensified, after which the re-vegetation of the area is pursued vigorously by the government.”

He said this would help the oil companies operating in the area to return the vegetation that had existed before the advent of exploration and exploitation activities over 50 years ago in Oloibiri well.

Ige urged government at all levels to urgently stop the prevailing reckless destruction of vegetation and forest, insisting on conscious efforts by government to stop or slow down deforestation.

Prof. Ige advised government to engage palynology in stemming down the prevailing kidnapping incidents in the country by identifying the kidnappers den through subjecting materials such as clothing and shoes from released victims to pollen analysis.

He also urged FG to establish Forensic Palynology Laboratories in the country that would help in locating the specific areas used by kidnappers to hide their victims, assuring that AAUA would be ready to pioneer such investigations.

The House of Representative Committee on Environment and Habitat, has lamented slow pace of work on the Ogoni clean up, urged the Federal Government to declare state of emergency in the area for the exercise  to be  urgently done.

The Committee Chaired by Obinna Chidioka, said, there is competence on the   three companies at the demonstration sites of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) but stressed the need for the processes leading to the clean up to be faster.

The lawmaker stated this when the House of Representative Committee visited   HYPREP Demonstration sites in Korokoro Tai,  Ogoni, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.

He vowed that the House members would no longer take the issue of Ogoni clean up likely, adding that the issue of the clean up would now be handled with all seriousness.

He called on the Federal Government to promptly release funds required to ensure that the project is actualized timely, stating that the more the delay in the clean up,  the more the impact on the livelihood of the people.

He said,  “The Governing Council , Board of Trustees who approve the fund for the clean up should be faster in doing that , we want to see government create more efficient ways to making this project go faster”

“We are desirous to see that Ogoni land is cleaned up, not just cleaned up but clean with a specific time limit  to enable everyone in Ogoni  have normal life again”

He promised that the lawmakers will give the necessary backup through reviewing of the HYPREP guidelines to ensure timely  implementation of the exercise.

He said, “HYPREP activities is for a purpose, to clean up Ogoni land, so we want to see that the clean up is done and concluded then we  will review the policy to give the environment agencies like NOSDRA, NESDRA  the legal framework work  to bite to ensure that any further pollution even it is one litre , that the pollutant will not only pay for it but will pay with his freedom”

“If they have been doing their jobs, sending people to jail for polluting the environment, am sure we will not experience this kind of pollution again. So after now, we will take the pollutant’s to court, prosecute any one found guilty “

Also speaking, the  member representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Henry Nwawuba, regretted that the people has continued to suffer and yet there is no clear package about the clean up exercise .

He said, it was worrisome that barely two years the project was flagged off by Vice president, Prof.Yemi Osibanjo ,HYPREP was still
talking rhetorics and showing pictures without concrete evidence on works about the project.

He said: “HYPREP is just going round organising workshops and taking pictures, while the environment is still left suffering, no more fish, periwinkle, we cannot continue to be suffering.why is it that by this time, there is no clear package in the clean up?

“HYPREP is talking too much rhetorics, nothing is being done ,there is need for state of emergency in the area because things need to be done urgently, we are here to ensure that the Ogoni clean up  is done as soon as possible “

On his part, the Member representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency, Uzoma Abonta, said, it was necessary to create a specific timeline  for the project to be delivered,  otherwise, HYPREP will keep singing and presenting pictures from year to year.

He called for prompt and adequate funding into the project to enable it achieve the objective.

Earlier, the project Cordinator of HYPREP, Dr. Dekil Marvin, disclosed that the major challenge of the agency, is its inability to access fund directly from the Federal government, stating that it can only access funds   through the governing  Council .

He regretted that funds are not promptly and adequately released.

The HYPREP boss said, “the process of the clean up  has been consistent,we are doing all that we are suppose to do within the law but we hope that a review on the law will help push the whole process faster”

“Emergency measures has been done like the provisions of water, we have opened more demonstration project sites, health impact assessment has also been carried out among others”

Marvin  called on the lawmakers to help it deliver the overall objective of government towards cleaning the Ogoni  area and  ensuring restoration of the livelihood of  the people.

Also, the paramount ruler of Ogoni Kingdom and the President, Supreme Council of Traditional rulers of Ogoni, King G.N.Gininwa lamented that inadequate funding was responsible for the slow action in the clean up exercise.

He regretted that the development has continued to make the people to suffer from lack of livelihood, unemployment, insecurity, lack of basic amenities, portable drinking water, good health among others.

He called on the government and the House members to reciprocate the goodwill of the Ogonis by ensuring speedy implementation of the project without further stories.

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers president, Dr. Bolarinde Patunola-Ajayi

Flustered by the increasing abuse of its social media platforms, estate surveyors have released guidelines for members. A breach of any of the provisions by users may lead to a sanction under the Code of Professional Ethics and Practice arm of the body.

The guidelines issued by the council of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), encourages its members to use the social media platforms while upholding a sound professional and ethical conduct in consonance with the the intendment of the laws and the statutes governing the profession.

But warned that the institution reserves the right to require the closure of any official social media applications or removal of content published by members which may adversely affect the institution’s reputation or put the body at risk of legal action.

In the document signed by the Acting National Secretary, Mallam Bature Ali Muhammad, the council noted that there has been some grievances as to its usage and engagement such as; defamation, integrity risk, misinformation, dishonesty and distortion, public bashing and backlash, breach of confidentiality, cyber bulling and misuse of institution operation.

“Social media is a platform that gives the member a profile and a voice which includes not only Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Myspace, WhatsApp, Google Plus, Youtube, Webcasts and Blogs. Also any website or public online sites or application, social network, any article, or posting by another, any participation in any forum or community or any publicly accessible written piece will be classified as a social media.

“It then becomes pivotal that members access and use these technologies and facilities in an discharge of our duties to our stakeholders, the public, our legal responsibilities and our effective, efficient and flexible manner while also ensuring that we balance this with the reputation in a bid’ to keep our nobility, integrity, fidelity, dignity, honour and quality of service.

The council said the guidance is not a way to silence its members. “Health debate, sound argument, intellectual engagement and ideological stands without moral turpitude and misdemeanor is encouraged as long as all is done with integrity, positivity and highest level of professionalism.”

According to the circular, “ it is acceptable to talk about our work and have a dialogue with the community, but it is not permissible to publish confidential information. This includes announcing another member’s name, personal details and information; business performance such as discussing future business plans, unannounced strategies, financial analysis and revealing any information which is not publicly available.”

The Guardian that some members have in recent past embarrass clients, self, firms, institution or others by disclosing confidential information publicly, misrepresent or exaggerate qualifications in an attempt to misinform the public or disparage the institution, its officers and members (or anyone); conduct, speak or write improperly implying that which could damage or put the institution, its members and/or its reputation at risk and destroyed social media evidence.

The council advised members to act responsibly when posting online, particularly in activity conducted using an institution e-mail address or which can be traced back to the institution’s domain.

“Your right to privacy and freedom of speech is usually exercised on your personal social networks with your personal e-mail addressetc. However, what you publish on such personal online sites must not be attributed to the institution and must not appear to be endorsed by or originated from the NIESV.

“Be mindful of the fact that any content that you publish will be in the public domain and in some cases will remain public for a long time. You are personally responsible for any content that you publish. Be aware that your content may provoke a response and be open to the opinions of others.”
Provide informative content and interesting perspectives.

“The institution is best represented by its people. When you decide to contribute to an online media resource you are deciding to be an ambassador for the Institution and even the wider professional community. When you are producing content always consider how your information will improve knowledge, build on ideas and help to solve problems.”

Memebers of the United States Agency for International Development in Nigeria (USAID)  Community of Practice (CoP) for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) with the Director, Water Supply and Public Private Partnerships, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Benson Ajisegiri and WASH Coordination Project Chief of Party, Timeyin Uwejamomere, during their retreat in Abuja, recently

The United States Agency for International Development in Nigeria (USAID) recently launched  Community of Practice (CoP) for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene(WASH) has ended its retreat in Abuja, aimed at improving the delivery of basic services in the sector.

The 14-man CoP steering committee (SC) comprises a group of professionals with vested interest in urban WASH that will ensure CoP is acknowledge –focused platform, disseminate practical information and best practices in Nigeria. The WASH Coordination Project (WCP) is being supervised in Nigeria by USAID financed Development Innovation Group (DIG).

In 2015, the World Bank published a performance assessment report on State Water Agencies (SWAs) in Nigeria. This report led to discussion among donors including USAID, the World Bank and African Development Bank and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on the need for an urban WASH-CoP.

Consequently, the SC set up by WCP team in collaboration with USAID  and the Federal Government was inaugurated in August by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu during the 24th regular meeting of the National Council of Water Resources in Akure, Ondo State.

The Director, Water Supply and Public Private Partnerships, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Benson Ajisegiri, an engineer, who doubles as an advisor to the SC, pledged the support of the government towards ensuring the committee meet its objectives and provide independent assessment of the water sector.

He noted that the Nigeria water sector is in crisis, and such platform will be a bail out for the utilities, assist the ministry to provide survelliance and share knowledge. According to him, the ministry has began performance valuation of the utilities and benchmarking them.

‘’USAID subsequently agreed to sponsor the creation of a CoP to support SWAs in the effort to develop, disseminate, and assess technical information with regards to the commercialization of water utilities. By promoting cooperation, communication, and information sharing among utilities, notably through a CoP, USAID expects to accelerate reforms in the sector,’’ according to Timeyin Uwejamomere, WCP Chief of Party.

He explain that the two-day retreat is meant to build common understanding of the SC and clarify CoP strategy as well as develop it into a sustained knowledge sharing platform.