*Firm plans $20m luxury flats

By Abiodun Alade

The First Empire Group has urged government to partner  real estate  companies to develop housing schemes in the country to alleviate the suffering of the masses and address the over 17 million housing deficit.

The Group Head, Energy, Dimeji Oganla, said the company will infuse $20million into the sector by developing a 20-unit luxury flat and 20-unit terraces duplex with suspended swimming pool, a central gas system and a club house dubbed Alan Empire Palms at Isheri, Magodo, Lagos.

Miss Folashade Afilaka, Odumuyiwa Babatunde, Dimeji Oganla and Alberto Fafuzzo

Oganla, who disclosed this in a press conference in Lagos, assured that the firm will deliver value-added services that will make housing a pleasurable experience for residents, adding that the project was conceived to eradicate the challenges associated with housing in Nigeria through innovative means.

“Our main objective is to help address the housing deficit in the country; we have in our own establishment a moving train; a train that would transport every willing Nigerian and friends to their destination at a very affordable cost,” he stressed.

Topnotch Italian Civil Engineer, Mr Alberto Fafuzzo, who is the Director of the project, said  the cost of building an apartment does not necessarily translate to durability.

“I’ve been in Nigeria since 2009 and have done different hotel constructions. We see different buildings collapse but it is due to lack of proper investigation by professionals. The components must be at least 80% of the expected result and we are sure to deliver value and the best,” he said.

Other members of the Group present at the conference are Miss Folashade Afilaka, the Group Head, Tourism and Mr Odumuyiwa Babatunde, Group Head, Real Estate.