PROPERTY ARTICLES

Quantity surveyors urge proper projects’ costing in subsidy reinvestment
By AGENCY REPORTER
Guardian, Monday 6th February, 2012

AMID simmering controversy, the nation’s cost economists - the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) - has called on the Federal Government to apply appropriate costing methodologies, value engineering and reporting to ensure transparency in the reinvestment of the subsidy savings....More

Realtors to discuss land, housing policies
By TOSIN FODEKE
Punch, Monday 30th January, 2012

AMID simmering controversy, the nation’s cost economists - the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) - has called on the Federal Government to apply appropriate costing methodologies, value engineering and reporting to ensure transparency in the reinvestment of the subsidy savings....More

Housing pros predict rise in property prices, gloomy 2012
By Chinedum Uwaegbulam, Assistant Housing & Environment Editor
Guardian, Monday 23rd January, 2012

WITH all economic parameters indicating a slowdown and large preponderance of government’s recurrent expenditure, construction costs will go up and harden rentals in the housing industry. Similarly, the subsidy removal will trigger inflationary trend, which will impact negatively on house prices and rentals, making it impossible for many people to buy an apartment, according to the 2012 predictions of housing industry experts.....More

Housing sector filled with pains, losses in 2011
By Chukwuma Okparaocha
Tribune, Monday 2nd January, 2012

The year 2011 was a year many Nigerians will never forget in a hurry. It was a year that brought to the fore,various challenges and achievements of many sectors of the economy, housing and environment inclusive....More

Architects condemn preference for foreign building experts
By Akinpelu Dada
Punch, Monday 26th December, 2011

The Nigerian Institute of Architects has condemned the preference by government and corporate organisations for foreign professionals to handle building design and construction projects to the exclusion of their indigenous counterparts....More

Mabogunje charts new paths for urban infrastructure financing
By Chinedum Uwaegbulam
Guardian, Monday 12th December, 2011

ON the heels of new plans to concession road infrastructure to private concerns, renowned town planner, Prof. Akin Mabogunje and other experts have weighed the options and are seeking strategic overhaul of polices guiding the public private partnership agreements to ensure sustainable human settlement development, as well as, financing....More

Lagos to partner artisans on safer building
By Editor Property
Guardian, Monday 5th December, 2011

TOWARDS ensuring the reduction of incessant building collapse in Lagos State, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development is seeking a collaboration with the artisans, under the aegis of the Association of Building Artisans of Nigeria (ASBAN) to provide safer building....More

Professionals urge review of Abuja Master Plan
By Emmanuel Badejo
Guardian, Monday 28th November, 2011

EXCEPT urgent steps are taken to facilitate resettlement of indigenous population to curb menace of illegal sale and, or speculation of land by the traditional land owing families, Nigeria’s administrative hub, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) may soon become a slum, capable of promoting social and security risk....More

Building insurance law: Experts canvass strict implementation
By Agency reporter
Punch, Monday 21st November, 2011

Experts in construction and insurance industries believe that effective implementation of the law on compulsory insurance of buildings will stem the tide of structural failure and human causalities, RONKE BADMUSwrites....More

Senate, experts canvass sustainable land governance framework
By Tunde Alao
Guardian, Monday 14th November, 2011

FOLLOWING large-scale and serious corruption associated with acquisition, disposal of public lands as well as difficulty to access land administration, experts have renewed effort to improve land sector governance in the country....More

Constraints, opportunities for councils in low cost housing provision
By Dr. Ifenna Chukwujekwu
Guardian, Monday 7th November, 2011

The roles of local governments in housing delivery will continue to be on the increase as long as the population continues to rise and the supply of housing is unable to match the demand argues Dr. Ifenna Chukwujekwu, president/ chairman of Council, Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN). He said that to attract investors’ participation in housing delivery, local government administrators should be ready to support with provision of infrastructural facilities in housing estates to be developed in the grassroots, which will assist in making such housing units affordable to the people....More

Building collapse: BCPG decries neglect of information, other lapses...As expert suggests way forward
By TOSIN FODEKE
Tribune, Monday 31st October, 2011

A group, comprising professional builders and construction experts, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), in the wake of the latest case of building collapse in the country, has again called the attention of the government to the need to tackle the problem which has brought about the death of numerous individuals, as well as loss of property....More

Engineers decry waning professional practice, standards
By TOSIN FODEKE
Guardian, Monday 24th October, 2011

SADDLED with low patronage of its services by government, mechanical engineers have reiterated that high-quality engineering is absolutely crucial to national development, and government must urgently address a number of challenges in its ebbing built sector if it wants to leap frog out of its undeveloped state and compete in the global economy.....More

‘Tenancy law enacted out of desperation’
By Chukwuma Okparaocha
Tribune, Monday 17th October, 2011

The president of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr Bode Adediji, in a recent report, revealed that the Lagos State government must have enacted the new tenancy law out of desperation to confront the ‘hydra-headed monster’ of housing problems bedevilling the state....More

‘Land Use Act needs review’
By Chukwuma Okparaocha
Tribune, Monday 10th October, 2011

An expert in property, land and legal issues, Mr Ama Umuazo, has called on the government to review the Land Use Act which was promulgated in 1978 so as to meet the demands of the modern era....More

Cost engineers decry flaws in road procurement process
By Debo Oladimeji
Guardian, Monday 3rd October, 2011

DISTURBED that improper evaluation of infrastructure may have escalated the deplorable conditions of some roads in the country, the Institute of Appraisers and Cost Engineers (IACE), a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has blamed the trend on the flaws in the procurement processes....More

Modern day land rush is forcing thousands into greater poverty, warns Oxfam
By Editor Property
Guardian, Monday 26th September, 2011

A MAJOR new report highlighting the growing pace of land deals brokered around the world, often to the peril of poor communities who lose their homes and livelihoods - sometimes violently - with no prior consultation, compensation or means of appeal has been launched by Oxfam....More

Lagos tasks FG on mortgage fund for mass housing schemes
By Kamal Tayo Oropo
Guardian, Monday 19th September, 2011

A FRESH call for the Federal Government to review the Primary Housing Mortgage Institution (PMI) Act, towards guaranteeing the needed capital that will fund mass housing initiatives in the country has been made by the Lagos authorities....More

As cement prices return to rooftops

Vanguard, Monday 12th September, 2011

The construction of roads, infrastructure and housing is reeling again under a vicious resurgence of cement prices. Reports have it that in many parts of the country, especially the Lagos metropolis, where development of housing projects is proceeding at a frenetic pace, a bag of cement now goes for as a high as N2,800 per bag.....More

Why drainage systems failure will persist in Lagos, by official

Guardian, Monday 22nd August, 2011

SUNDAY, July 10, 2011 will, probably, go down in the history of Lagos State as "Day of the Tsunami."....More

NIQS advocates abrogation of Land Use Act
By Agency reporter
Punch, Monday 15th August, 2011

The President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mr. Agele Alufohai, has advocated for the abrogation of the Land Use Act 1978 and that government housing agencies should focus more on regulatory and policy incentives that strengthen the private sector....More

‘One-third of property purchases collapse’
By Agency reporter
Punch, Monday 8th August, 2011

Nearly a third of all property purchases are falling through, costing prospective home owners thousands of pounds.....More

Ministry, CBN plan new guidelines on housing finance

Guardian, Monday 1st August, 2011

EFFORTS are underway towards providing housing finance that would make low cost houses available to low income earners....More

Afribuild exhibition to showcase contemporary building designs
By Stanley Opara
Punch, Monday 25th July, 2011

The inaugural Afribuild West Africa 2012 exhibition will be showcasing interior and exterior building designs as well as contemporary products for the housing industry....More

How land acquisition process affects housing development - Experts
By CHINEDUM UWAEGBULAM
Guardian, Monday 18th July, 2011

LIKE the start of a whirlwind, the heavy downpour came; when it settled eight hours later last Sunday, virtually all properties in every part of Lagos was inundated with water, leaving luxury homes submerged and inhabitants counting losses. But today, with the list of ‘victims’ growing, incident exposing and ridiculing the under belly of the city’s drainage master plan, real estate experts are singing different tunes on the probable effects on rents and property values on the affected areas....More

How land acquisition process affects housing development - Experts
By Stanley Opara
Punch, Monday 11th July, 2011

Inequitable access to serviced plots of land in the country’s urban areas is considered as the most important factor militating against housing supply because of inappropriate land management frameworks. STANLEY OPARA writes.....More

Minimising environmental hazards in small-scale mining
By Stanley Opara
Punch, Monday 4th July, 2011

A Modern mining involves the removal of minerals from the earth economically and with minimal damage to the environment. But in Nigeria, the environment is being exposed to danger. STANLEY OPARA writes on the need for safer small-scale mining activities....More

Kudos, knocks trail proposed Lagos new tenancy law
By EMMANUEL BADEJO
Guardian, Monday 27th June, 2011

AS Lagosians await the assent of the controversial new tenancy law by Governor Raji Fashola to usher in a regime of rent control, divergent views have continued to becloud the proposed document....More

Reforms: Making Nigeria’s mortgage system vibrant
By Stanley Opara
Punch, Monday, 20th June, 2011

To ensure massive development of homes for the teeming population, a robust mortgage finance system with market support initiatives and well capitalised institutions must be developed, writes STANLEY OPARA. ...More

Addressing poor planning of Nigerian cities, towns
By Stanley Opara
Punch, Monday, 13th June, 2011

A slum settlement in Lagos Nigeria is confronted with rapid urbanisation, high rural-urban migration and dearth of infrastructure to cope with the influx of people into the metropolitan areas. STANLEY OPARA looks at the poor planning of Nigerian cities and towns, and the way forward. ...More

‘Involve engineers in policy formulation’
By Stanley Opara
Punch, Monday, 6th June, 2011

Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers have advised the government to involve them in the formulation of policies, especially those that have bearing on their profession....More

‘Nigeria needs policies that favour local cement production’
By Stanley Opara
Punch, Monday, 30th May, 2011

To achieve progress in Nigeria’s construction sector, the country requires policies that will favour local production of cement....More

Cement price reduction: ‘Our fears, concerns,’ by construction sector operatives
By EMMANUEL BADEJO
Guardian, Monday, 23rd May, 2011

AMID the President Goodluck Jonathan steps last week towards boosting activities within the construction industry, through reduction of cement prices, some professionals have hailed the directive, while others foresee no end in sight as its too artificial to bring about the needed change....More

Access to affordable housing is a major issue confronting stakeholders in the built environment and masses in the country. STANLEY OPARA writes on the need for investors to look in the direction of rural areas for housing projects....More

Nigeria’s construction industry hall of fame
By EDITOR PROPERTY
Guardian, Monday, 9th May, 2011

COME next month, individuals, corporate organisations, governments that have distinguished themselves in the construction industry will be recognised as part of the Nigeria’s Construction Industry Hall of Fame,scheduled at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.....More

Lagos identifies urbanisation as challenge to housing provision
By Agency reporter
Punch, Monday, 2nd May, 2011

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Housing, Mr. Jimoh Ajao, says urbanisation and influx of people are challenges to the provision of adequate housing in the state....More

‘Absence of reliable data, bane of planning in Nigeria’
By AKINPELU DADA
Punch, Monday, 25th April, 2011

The President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Mr. Kabir Yari, is an advocate of planning before development. In this interview with AKINPELU DADA, he talks about the challenges confronting the profession in the country and how cities can be more liveable....More

More lending set to boost Dubai property market - Analysts
By Agency Reporter
Punch, Monday, 18th April, 2011

The residential property market in Dubai is stabilising with transactions rising in January and February helped by a resurgence of finance for real estate investments, according to the latest report from Cluttons....More

Housing experts to tackle access to land challenges at Housing Fair
By BY TOSIN FODEKE
Punch, Monday, 11th April, 2011

BUOYED by the need to tackle access to land and housing delivery in the country, experts in the property sector are to deliberate on the challenges facing the sector at the forthcoming Lagos Housing Fair, billed for next month.....More

NBRRI canvasses alternative building construction methods
By Temitope Adepetu
Punch, Monday, 21st March, 2011

The Director-General, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, Mr. Danladi Matawa, has said that the use of some locally available building materials will ensure the provision of quality and affordable houses for the benefit of low income earners.....More

Architects bemoan hike in cement prices, seek govt intervention

Guardian, Monday, 14th March, 2011

NIGERIAN architects have expressed concerns over the recent rise in the price of cement, a base product that cannot be compromised or effectively substituted in today’s local conventional construction climate.....More

Fresh concern over barrier to affordable housing
By SAMSON ECHENIM
Punch, Monday, 7th March, 2011

An architect’s illustration of a residential property at UPDC’s Metro Gardens, Ikoyi. Experts at a forum on Nigeria’s real estate industry in Lagos on Thursday, asked the Federal Government to summon the political will to address the nation’s widening housing deficit, SAMSON ECHENIM reports....More

Group charges EFCC to check property fraudsters
By Tunde Odesola, Osogbo
Punch, Monday, 28th February, 2011

A website, cheatednigerians.com, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to check the activities of fraudulent estate agents in the country....More

Safetrust strategises for effective housing delivery
By Samson Echenim
Punch, Monday, 14th February, 2011

Safetrust Savings & Loans Limited, a primary mortgage institution, has opened a new branch in Ikeja, Lagos State, the bank said in a statement on Saturday.....More

Global land values set to rise - Analysts
By Agency reporter
Punch, Monday, 24th January, 2011

The straight line trend for international farmland values has remained positive, the report from consultants Savills said, adding that most mainstream investors had yet to look at land....More