Nigeria loses about N10.5 billion annually to environmental challenges such as deforestation, drought and desertification, the Director General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall Program, Goni Ahmed has said.

AS Nigeria continues the search for alternative building solutions to bridge the nation’s widening housing gap, Messrs Alpha Mead Development Company, AMDC, has introduced a modular building system aimed at lowering the entry level for middle income home buyers in Nigeria.

AGAINST the backdrop of recurring incidents of collapsed buildings in the country, a front line lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana has challenged built environment professionals to fish out those who cut corners in building constructions and in the process erect buildings that are dangerous for human habitation.

A retired banker, Mr. Mathias Chuma Muomah has dragged a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Bayo Osinowo popularly known as Pepper to the Lagos High Court, Ikeja for alleged trespass of his property situated at No 66 Adekunle Banjo Avenue, Off CMD Road, Shangisha.
Joined as defendants in the suit documented as ID/1154LMW/15, are Mr. Alaba Osunaike also known as Saipon, the Attorney -General of Lagos State and persons unknown.

The National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme was established by Act 3 of 1992 to enable Nigerians in all sectors of the economy, particularly those within the low and medium income levels who cannot afford commercial housing loans to own houses. But what are the criteria needed and the procedures required in order to be able to secure loans under the scheme?

That is not even a bad reflection because in all fairness, members of these allied professions -architects, quantity surveyors and engineers have what it takes by training and experience to actually play important roles in project management. But the reason why estate surveyors and valuers have been involved from day one is because, in the construction process, you don’t really allow or encourage a single professional to take on much responsibility in a given project without experiencing conflicts.

“Assuming but without conceding that the notices issued by the Defendants have been validly issued, a declaration that the portion of land opposite the Claimant’s plot (Plot 8, Block 138, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1, Lagos State) does not constitute Block 139, Lekki Scheme 1, Lagos State, but is a NEPA Reservation as provided under the Operative Development Plan in Plan No. LS/D/LA 516b forming part of the Claimant’s Certificate of Occupancy dated June 14, 1998 by virtue of the deed of assignment dated March 20, 2005″.

Falana who spoke at the 7th Annual Distinguished Lecture organised by the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS in Lagos stated that instead of sanctions, such culprits should be made to face the full weight of the law. Speaking on “Leadership, Socio-Economic Impasse and Shortage of Infrastructural Development in Nigeria”, Falana charged quantity surveyors to “take control and rid yourselves of quacks who destroy the integrity of your profession before members of the public”.

I see Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence and commercial nerve centre of Nigeria as mostly a rural area”. You may find it difficult to fathom this assertion, but it was made by a respected land professional – the new Chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Offiong Samuel Ukpong.

IS the construction of a second bridge across the River Niger at Onitsha jinked? For how long will the Federal Government and other stakeholders continue to play politics with this all-important bridge considering the fact that the old bridge built over 50 years ago is now in a distressed condition? These posers were raised by distraught Nigerians who reacted to the alleged abandonment of work on the bridge by the contractors.

I used to tell my madam and colleagues in the office that I have won a house in the lottery promo being organised by Home Lottery but they would not believe me, but now that the house and the keys have been presented to me, I now believed that the lottery scheme is true”.

The triple combination of the inability of the Federal Government to roll out its economic policies, huge debt owed contractors and the advent of the rainy season, have brought activities in the nation’s construction industry to a near standstill.

No fewer that 11 states in Nigeria are at risk of flooding, according to the Nigerian Hydrological Agency, NHSA. The Agency which unveiled its 2015 Annual Flood Outlook has therefore advised the concerned states to come up with effective mitigation strategies, capable of preventing flooding within their territories.

THE National President, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN, Rev. Ugochuckwu Chime has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to develop a new housing policy which will enable the common people, (the Talakawas) who voted him into power to have their own houses.

We have heard of stock market crashes and banks going bankrupt. Although real estate values often fall, it is not usually a very bad situation. In fact, even when property values fall, you would still earn rent income from the property. On the other hand, real estate is physical and tangible compared to stocks, bonds and many other intangible forms of investment. Both in times of high inflation, economic boom and bust, real estate investments remain robust and will most likely continue to earn you income. Very few other investment options can do the same.