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We’ve built 3,526 houses through PPP – Sanwo-Olu

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We’ve built 3,526 houses through PPP – Sanwo-Olu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Thursday said his administration had inaugurated more than 15 housing projects and 3,526 housing units across the state since its inception in 2019.

Sanwo-Olu said this at the second stakeholders’ summit of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Lagos State Chapter, held in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by Engr. Omotayo Bamgbose, Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, said other ongoing affordable and decent housing projects would be delivered before the end of the first tenure of his administration.

“Most of these projects are being developed in conjunction with private developers and we will continue to explore the public-private partnership model.

“This is in order to continue to enjoy the robust benefit it offers to the sector and its effectiveness in delivering more housing units to meet the demands of an increasing population,” he said.

According to him, the ongoing land reform in the state is a firm commitment to addressing the challenge of housing deficit in Lagos.

Sanwo-olu mentioned said the state government had also strengthened its policy of delivering homes to Lagosians through a convenient mortgage system tagged, ‘Rent-To-Own.’

The governor said: “In addition, we introduced the monthly rent payment policy to ease the hardship usually experienced by the people, especially low-income earners.

“It is expected to be a win-win situation for both the tenants and landlords as it would create a steady stream of income for property owners.

“I solicit the support of property owners and stakeholders to embrace the policy and ensure that it succeeds.”

Sanwo-Olu said the dearth of affordable housing affected low-income citizens who paid an inconsistent share of their income for housing or lived in inadequate housing.

He expressed regret that low-income earners had to live in houses that were hard to reach from their employment and had difficulty accessing health and other social services.

The governor admitted that finding the right solutions to the challenges confronting the state would require embracing diverse opinions and views; hence, the consistent engagement with critical stakeholders to achieve the greater Lagos desired.

Sanwo-Olu urged all serious-minded investors to join hands with the government for a speedy resolution of the housing deficit in the state, as the investment opportunities in the sector were huge and quite rewarding.

“To manage the activities of stakeholders in the real estate sector, we activated the law that established the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA).

“This agency is saddled with investigating complaints and petitions against licensed and unlicensed real estate practitioners, and property developers and impose sanctions in accordance with the law.

“Let me also reiterate our administration’s zero-tolerance policy to the willful flouting of rules and regulations guiding the operations in the built industry,” he said.

The governor lauded REDAN for organising the summit at a time the state government was looking at innovative ways to meet its housing deficit.

He expressed optimism that the meeting would proffer workable solutions that would further enhance housing development in the state.

“I congratulate and commend the leadership of REDAN for partnering with the Lagos State government through her relevant agencies to organise this summit.

“I urge you as an association to join hands with us in the renewed and determined efforts to ensure that established standards in the industry are complied with and strictly enforced,” Sanwo-Olu said.

In his welcome address, the Chairman, of REDAN Lagos Chapter, Mr Bamidele Onalaja, said real estate, being a secured investment for an assured future, was faced with a global challenge that needed to be tackled.

Onalaja said to this end, developers must strengthen their synergy with the government and all relevant stakeholders in the industry.

He added that the summit was another opportunity to brainstorm and plan towards 2023 and beyond.

He noted that real estate investment over the years in Nigeria attracted both local and foreign investors.

According to him, the industry is, however, faced with unprecedented challenges such as inflation, which has led to a spike in the cost of building materials.

Onalaja said the adverse effect of global warming had also engendered a reduction of available land, especially in Lagos State due to flooding and erosion.

“For this reason and more, there is every need to secure the future of the real estate industry.

“To all real estate developers who are yet to register, I urge you to be part of this formidable umbrella; there are so many investors in waiting,” he said.

Onalaja appreciated the Lagos State government under the stewardship of Gov. Sanwolu for his relentless support to REDAN while lauding his colleagues for their doggedness to scale through the challenging year together.

 

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Customs Boss Receives Plateau State Governor, Pledges Strong Ties With The State

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The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has pledged to strengthen ties with the people and the government of Plateau State during a courtesy visit by the Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, at Customs Headquarters Abuja on September 29, 2023.

Welcoming the Governor and his entourage to the Corporate Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service, the CGC highlighted the Service’s progress during its first 100 days in office and its commitment to revitalizing the agency through partnerships with stakeholders and governors nationwide.

In response to the governor’s request to include Plateau among the states receiving Customs’ humanitarian support, the Acting CGC assured prompt intervention, emphasizing the Service’s role in distributing food and non-food items to communities.

*The CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, while receiving the Plateau State Governor, Mutfwang

Governor Caleb Manasseh expressed gratitude for the efforts to improve the Customs institution and sought continued support and partnership to enhance Plateau State’s economy and security.

This visit reflects the Acting CGC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships with state governments to bolster trade and secure border areas across the federation.

*The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, during his visit to Customs Headquarters Abuja on September 29, 2023.

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Demolition: Court Orders Kano Govt To Pay N30bn Compensation To Kano Eid Shop Owners

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…Justice Amobeda averred that the Kano state government’s action of forcefully demolishing and vandalising the applicants’ shops without due process is illegal***

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Friday ordered the Kano State Government to pay N30 billion as compensation to shop owners whose properties were demolished at Kofar Mata Eid praying ground in Kano city.

The applicants Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Idi Shop Owners, Traders Association, and 56 others, through their Counsel, Dr Nuraddeen Ayagi, prayed the court for compensation.

They filed a motion exparte seeking for their enforcement of fundamental rights, right to own properties and damages against the State Government for demolishing their shops.

The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, the Attorney General of Kano, Nigeria Police, AIG Zone 1, Commissioner of Police Kano.

Others are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and NSCDC Kano Commandant.

The presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, averred that the Kano state government and seven other respondents’ action of forcefully demolishing and vandalising the applicants’ shops without due process to law is illegal and unconstitutional.

“The demolishing violates the applicants’ right to own property, right to life cum livelihood and right to dignity of human face as unprofessional.”

Amobeda ordered the first to third respondents to jointly pay the applicants the sum of N10 billion as general damages for violation of the applicants’ fundamental right to life and ownership of property as guaranteed by law.

“I hereby ordered the respondents to also pay the applicants an additional sum of N20 billion for punitive and exemplary damages,” Amobeda said.

The respondents are yet to react to the judgment.

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Jandor’s Petition, Dead On Arrival, Tribunal Tells Lagos PDP 

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OYO KILLING: PDP Demands Justice, Fingers Opposition Party

… Describes the Petitioner as ‘busybody***

The Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal on Monday declared as dead on arrival, a petition of the state Governorship Candidate of PDP, Dr Abdulazeez Adediran (a.k.a. Jandor), against Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s election.

The tribunal held that evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit.

Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by his party, the All Progressives Party (APC), and, therefore, was not qualified for the election.

However, Justice Mikail Abdullahi, while reading the tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that the position did not form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of a governor, under Sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

The tribunal also declared that it had no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC which produced Sanwo-Olu, adding that the issue was a pre-election matter which did not fall under its jurisdiction.

OYO KILLING: PDP Demands Justice, Fingers Opposition Party

“Only an aspirant or member of a political party can complain about the outcome of the party’s primary election, not a busybody like the petitioner,” Abdullahi held.

Abdullahi said: “The second respondent has the highest number of votes, this petition is dead on arrival.

“In view of the evidence adduced before this tribunal, the grounds on which the petitioner is seeking the disqualification of the second and third respondents (Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat) lacks merit.

“Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat are eminently eligible to contest under Section  177 of the Constitution as they are members of a political party and educated up to school certificate level.

“In view of the evidence before  the tribunal, I have found Gov. Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Hamzat, duly elected, and I therefore declare them winner of the March 18 governorship poll.”

The tribunal will also deliver judgment in a petition filed by Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party Governorship Candidate for Lagos State

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