PRESS RELEASE

•Seeks Memoranda from Stakeholders

The Tribunal of Inquiry set up by Lagos State Government into the collapse of 21 storey building at 44 B, C, D Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday disclosed that results of the tests conducted on the construction materials are still being awaited.

It implored the public, professional bodies and construction industry stakeholders, as well as individuals, to submit memoranda that have direct bearing on the unfortunate incident, which occurred on November 1.

The tribunal, chaired by the President of Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Mr. Toyin Ayinde, said that the memoranda should be submitted at ‘lagosgerrardtribunal@gmail.com’, noting that all memoranda, recommendations and submissions should be received on or before Wednesday, November 24.

Speaking during a press conference held on Monday at the tribunal secretariat in Lagos State Waterways Agency, LASWA Terminal Building (LASWA), Ikoyi, on the update and activities of the panel since its inauguration, Ayinde said the tribunal has not made its activities known to the public based on professional ethics. He said the Panel members are “compelled to speak only when investigations have been made, reports and documents submitted, queried, analysed and discussions held with relevant stakeholders.”

He said the six-member tribunal began sitting immediately after its inauguration on Thursday, November 4 and within two weeks of operation, it had received documents from some government MDAs, which panel members had started studying.

It would be recalled that on November 1, a 21 storey building in Gerrard Road, Ikoyi collapsed, killing over 40 persons, including the developer, Femi Osibona, while some people were rescued.

Subsequently, on Thursday, November 4, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, inaugurated a six-man Panel to probe the collapsed building incident with a view to preventing future occurrence. The tribunal was given 30 days to complete its task.

The Panel members are; Ayinde, a lawyer in a private law firm, Ekundayo Onajobi (Secretary); a structural engineer, Dr. Akintilo Idris Adeleke; an architect, Yinka Ogundairo; representative of Institute of Builders, Mr. Godfrey O. Godfrey, and a real estate lawyer, Mrs. Bunmi Ibrahim.

Ayinde said the tribunal had visited the site of the collapsed building for a general assessment of the rescue operations, and to determine areas where expert consultants’ services would be required, adding that members of the tribunal also visited the General Hospital, Broad Street, to interview some of the survivors, who could offer eyewitness accounts.

He also disclosed that the tribunal had listed more than 30 stakeholders relevant to the construction industry and the collapsed building, whose views, position papers and recommendations would be received and considered by his tribunal, adding that those the tribunal considered necessary to chat with would be invited.

The tribunal members, who observed a moment’s silence during the press conference in honour of those who died during the collapsed building, said the tribunal has engaged the services of consultant building materials testing laboratory for the purpose of investigating and conducting necessary tests on materials used for the construction of the collapsed building.

He said the tribunal has also engaged the services of a consultant Land Surveyor to conduct verticality tests on the remaining structures within the premises of the collapsed building, adding that it has written to relevant Government MDA’s to request for all files and documentation relating to the collapsed building, as well as writing all consultants and developers/contractors associated with the project on 44 B, C, D Gerrard Road, Ikoyi.

“There may have been concerns or agitations about why the Tribunal has not spoken to the Press. We will like to state that members of the Tribunal are professionals, and our calling demands that we make statements from informed and verified positions. We are compelled to speak only when investigations have been made, reports and documents submitted, queried, analysed and discussions held with relevant stakeholders.

“The Tribunal would like to state that some documents have been received from some government MDA’s and members have started studying them. We have also interviewed some of the LASG staff in the relevant MDA’s. We however appeal to members of the public, professional bodies and construction industry stakeholders, as well as individuals who have useful information and invite them to submit memoranda that have a direct bearing on the particular issue being investigated, as well as their recommendations to prevent future occurrence,” the tribunal chairman said.

PRESS RELEASE

“LET US ALL WORK HARD FOR A PEACEFUL, SAFE NIGERIA”, FASHOLA URGES NIGERANS
• As Minister is decorated with Emblem of the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day
• Says it is the only way to keep alive the memories of those that paid the supreme sacrifice for peace in Nigeria, globally
• Explains promotion of peace as “not necessarily absence of conflict, but quick resolution of such conflicts”
• Pays tribute to the fallen heroes, their widows and children who continue to serve to promote peaceful co-existence

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Monday called on Nigerians to join hands with government to promote peace and security in the country saying that it is the only way to keep alive the memories of those compatriots who paid the supreme sacrifice to preserve the peace and unity of the country.
Fashola, who spoke at the Headquarters of the Ministry where he was decorated with the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem, said working together for the promotion of peace and security would ensure that the sacrifices made by the fallen heroes were not in vain.
Reiterating the call for the promotion of peace and security among the people, the Minister, who, however, explained that the promotion of peace did not mean the absence of conflicts and disagreement, declared, “It is the resolution of those conflicts in a manner that does not lead to conflict that is important”.
“As human beings with our diversity, we could have so many conflicts and disagreement, but those conflicts must not lead to violence or lead to clashes. Those conflicts must be resolved before the day is over and this is the job that is everybody’s responsibility, not only those in government but to all Nigerians”, he said.
Fashola pointed out that if all Nigerians choose to live together the issue of conflict resolution would be an easy task adding, “And the less conflict we have, the less people who will have to lay down their lives to bring such conflicts to an end, and the less widows and widowers and orphaned children we will have; and the more that happens daily the better our country will be”.
Urging all Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, to support the course of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the Minister commended President Muhammadu Buhari for leading from the front at all times the cause of the upkeep of those left behind by the nation’s fallen heroes adding, “Nothing can be too much to support the cause that keeps the veterans and their dependants going”.
Welcoming the delegation of the Nigerian Legion led by its Chairman, Major General Jibril (rtd.), Fashola, acknowledged that the occasion was not just about the military but also about the affairs of both those who laid down their lives and those who “bear the burden of the sacrifice of our officers and their family members, in this case, widows, who in spite of their grief, continue to support and propagate the values of service in the military”.
The Minister, who described the “Season of Remembrance” as very important, declared, It is a very important season to remind all of us that were it not for the service of some people and their sacrifice in an ultimate way, perhaps our story would have been different. The least we can do to keep the memories of those people alive, to make sure that their sacrifices are not in vain is to continue to work hard to uphold the purpose for which they laid down their lives”.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Major General Jibril said the purpose of their visit was to solicit for assistance from well-meaning Nigerians for the country’s veterans of the various conflicts across the world and in Nigeria as well as their dependants.
Major General Jibil, who said President Buhari launched the Emblem on October 21, 2021, added that the President directed that they should go round to well-meaning Nigerians across the country to support the course by launching the Emblem.
Accompanying the Chairman of the Legion to the occasion were the General Secretary and other top members of the Legion while on the Ministry’s side were the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Babangida Hussaini, Directors, Special Advisers and other top Ministry officials.
HAKEEM BELLO
SPECIAL ADVISER,
COMMUNICATIONS
TO THE HON. MINISTER
22nd November, 2021

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING
Office of the Special Adviser on Communications
Headquarter, Mabushi P.M.B. 111, Garki – Abuja, Nigeria

PRESS RELEASE

SENATE COMMITTEE EXPRESSES SATISFACTION AS NHP PORTAL RECEIVES 7,315 APPLICATIONS IN SEVEN DAYS
• As Fashola defends 2022 Budget before Senate Committee on Housing
• Minister assures that there will be continuous review and updating of the process in order to maintain transparency, quality control
• “We are also impressed that the data you gave to us showed that you’ve launched out.You’ve hit the ground running,” says Committee Chairman

As Nigerians respond positively to the Ministry of Works and Housing portal opened last Tuesday for a chance to subscribe to the over 5,000 houses under the Federal Government’s National Housing Programme, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has announced that a total of 7,315 applications for allocation have already been received by the Ministry.

Fashola, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in continuation of the defense of the 2022 Budget of his Ministry, also submitted to the Committee the documents showing the number of applications submitted and those completed and undergoing processing as well as a breakdown of the number according to States.

And at the end of the defense, which took the form of a robust interaction, the Committee expressed satisfaction at the development in the Housing Sector with many, including the Chairman, Senator Sam Egwu, noting with delight that with the portal now opened, the Ministry has really launched out.

Explaining the criteria for pricing of the different categories of houses, the Minister, who said the prices ranged from N7.2 million, representing the lowest and N16.5 million representing the highest price, pointed out that one of the factors that made the difference in price between the Programme’s houses and those being built by private developers was size.

He told members of the Committee that the categories of the houses under the programme included1, 2, 3 bed rooms semi- detached bungalows and condominium, (blocks of flats), adding that there are also price differentials among the categories of houses based also on the size and space with all the bungalows, for example, having adjoining land thereby making it more expensive than the flats.

Fashola explained on the prices placed on the categories of houses further, “When compared with what is obtainable in the Private Sector in terms of size, the one bedroom with 77sqm of living space, two bedroom with 90sqm, and the three bedroom with 137sqms, are by far larger than houses built by private developers and justifies the prices placed on them.”

The Minister, who also noted that one bedroom flat in condominium, is 60sqms, two bedroom flats, 76sqms while the 3 bedroom flat is 110sqms, all of which, pointed out that they are more spacious than what is available in the conventional market, adding, “You cannot get them at such price in the market”.

Urging the lawmakers and other interested Nigerians to engage with the portal for answers to all the relevant questions, including quality, size and appearance of the house in any location across the country, the Minister declared, “Our thinking is informed by what we have experienced in parts of our lives and what we think is best practice. We think this is the digital age and we should begin to do things that are consistent with the age, not printing and selling forms”.

In response to a question on possible manipulation of the system, he explained, “We should not be creating unnecessary bureaucracies that will bring about unnecessary human interactions and possibly some of the manipulations you refer to”, adding, “that does not mean that any system cannot be manipulated but we think that this is consistent with the objective of government”.

“We are now in a country where we now buy air tickets with our handheld devices. We book hotels with our handheld devices. I don’t see why we can’t buy and sell houses with our handheld devices and I have done it as Governor in Lagos and I thought we should try it at the national level”, the Minister said noting that the Federal Government itself has said that everybody should subscribe to various identification means like BVN and so on. “We think that that is where we should be going”, he said.

Noting that the portal was launched barely a week ago, Fashola again urged, “Let us give it time to evolve and I think that 7,315 applications from Nigerians within this time is a very enthusiastic response”, adding that all those who had applied had paid N10,000 online to the Remita platform.

“So contrary to the assumptions that because conditions are difficult, that form that you would have sold in printed form is being sold digitally and government is collecting the money for administrative purposes”, the Minister said adding that although it is open to all Nigerians, some of the conditions that address facelessness include having a passport photograph and a tax clearance certificate and other means of identification like national ID, driver’s license or International passport.

Responding to concerns raised about affordability of the houses, “Affordability is not just a function of the cost but also the mode of payment,” adding that in order to take care of that aspect, the Ministry created the mortgage and Rent-to-Own options so that the payment could be spread over time.

On whether the Ministry was not duplicating the works of its agencies, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Fashola, who noted that the Ministry as head and supervisor of the agencies, was only carrying out a pilot project from which the agencies would continue to roll out in the future.

In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu, noted that the Minister had done justice to all the questions and thanked him for his diligence and commitment to housing delivery.

“You will agree with me that the Minister has done justice to the questions we have asked him. We are also impressed that the data you gave to us showed that you’ve launched out. You’ve hit the ground running. So, we’ll continue to interact with you … Like I said, we are happy and my members are happy, that is why the Chairman House Committee is here too…”, the Chairman of the Committee said.

Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Babangida Hussaini and Directors in the Housing Sector of the Ministry, Special Advisers and other relevant Ministry officials.

HAKEEM BELLO
SPECIAL ADVISER,
COMMUNICATIONS
TO THE HON. MINISTER
20th November, 2021

Yoruba World Centre’s Project, an initiative for unity and development – Ooni
All is now set for the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi to join Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, at the launching of Yoruba World Center’s project within the University of Ibadan on Tuesday, November 23, 2021
.The project being coordinated by the International Centre For Yoruba Arts and Culture (INCEYAC) is one of the best things to happen to the Yoruba people all over the world in recent times.
Oba Adeyeye, while speaking at his palace when an INCEYAC team led by the initiator and Publisher of Alaroye Newspapers, Mr. Alao Adedayo, visited him to brief and invite him to the event said “I am sincerely glad that you respected children of Yoruba land have decided to institute a center for the study of our language and culture. In fact, I will say I am excited. History and posterity will not forget you in a hurry because what you are doing is going to ensure that our culture and tradition are preserved.”
In addition to commending Alagba Alao Adedayo and his team, the Ooni also used the opportunity to pledge that he will be ready to collaborate and also play whatever role is necessary to make the project a success.
Said the Ooni “this is the right moment for all Yoruba sons and daughters to proudly come together to ensure that this project is successful. We need this to enhance our unity as a major Nigerian ethnic group.”
While responding, the team’s leader, Alagba Alao Adedayo submitted that the aim of putting the project together is to ensure that there is documentation and proper care for old records, traditional tools and historical materials.
The INCEYAC team that visited the Ooni included reknown cinematographer, Tunde Kelani and Dr Adeola Faleye of the Obafemi Awolowo University.
In addition to the Ooni of Ife and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, others billed to attend the event include all the governors of the South West states, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) and many eminent Yoruba sons and daughters in attendance.