This means that if you want to lease or assign your land or house, or mortgage same to raise a loan, you must obtain the governor’s consent to the transaction otherwise such transaction is null and void.

Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Olayiwola is the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Abuja chapter. He’s also a member of the committee inaugurated by the FCT Minister to take inventory of uncompleted buildings in Abuja. But while speaking in this interview with YEKEEN NURUDEEN and SAMUEL OGIDAN over the incessant cases of collapsed building in the FCT, Olayiwola traces the problem to the non-passage of the National Building Code by the National Assembly.

Unless there is a construction programme that details the sequence of stages of developments in a building construction, the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja and indeed the nation may continue to witness the unfortunate incidence of building collapse. This was the stand of Builder Alao Abdulrazaq

Builder Yahaya Yusuf is the FCT Director of the Department of Development Control. He and his department have been in the eye of the storm since the nation’s capital started recording incidence of collapsed buildings. But Yusuf in this interview with YEKEEN NURUDEEN and SAMUEL OGIDAN does not only speak in defence of his department, but also blames the problem in Abuja on the involvement of quacks in building construction and lack of personnel at the department.

As the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja continues to witness unfortunate incidents of collapsed buildings, experts have traced the root cause of the problem to the activities of quacks, who they argued are more responsible for the disaster. In this interview with YEKEEN NURUDEEN, Niyi Fadoju, an Abuja based estate surveyor and valuer also blames the problem on the lip service government has been paying to addressing the problem of collapsed buildings in the country.

The Cross River State Government says it has invested about N856 million on the Cross River Properties and Investment Limited (CROSPIL) Civil/Public Servants Estate in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.

The Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has assured the public that motorists and commuters can use the Lekki Toll Road without paying tolls throughout LCC’s 30-year concession period, by by-passing the toll plazas via alternative routes around the toll plazas.

In a bid to encourage waste sorting and boost cleanliness in the State, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has commenced the collection and management of green waste also known as garden waste.

THE Ekiti State Government has presented Certificates of Occupancy to the first set of applicants under the new Public Private Partnership PPP scheme.

In a novel initiative to fast track rapid infrastructure development and create conducive learning environment for students of tertiary institution in the three years old Osun State University (UNIOSUN), the Amorit International Limited, a real estate developer, has developed a N300 million modern hostel facility in conjunction with the university in its main campus, in Osogbo, the state capital.

Today I am writing, about something that I think everyone should know about asbestos-the silent killer. I know you may be wondering what is asbestos, why is it the silent killer and finally how does it kill. Firstly, let’s take a quick look at the history and introduction of asbestos.

When considering a commercial property investment it is wise to set some standard rules for the review so that you can compare opportunities that the various properties bring you.

Federal Government yesterday assured South East governors that urgent intervention measures would be implemented soon to tackle the menace of flooding and erosion in the region.

EFFORTS of the Lagos State Government to deliver the expansion/ reconstruction of the Lagos-Badagry Dual Carriageway (Lot 1) from four lane into 10-lane expressway received a boost at the weekend as construction of the Alafia Bridge and the service lane from Orile to Alaba have attained final stage of completion.

Nine communities along the bank of the Ogun River have been warned to be vigilant and report any threat of flood caused by the release of excess water from Oyan Dam.

The celebration could not have been ordinary for the millions inhabiting the rural areas of Lagos State. They came out in large numbers, right from Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, to Epe, Ikorodu, Ojo and Badagry happy that they have not been neglected in the allocation of projects to rural communities.

…to have 15,000 housing units

Nigerian actors and actresses, who are members of the nation’s movie industry popularly known as Nollywood would soon become proud owners of houses in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

*Expresses commitment to provision of affordable housing for Lagosians

In its bid to ensure the provision of affordable housing for all categories of Lagosians, the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has signed into law a bill establishing the Lagos State Mortgage Board.

Kayode Aboyeji

President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Mr. Olusegun Ajanlekoko, a quantity surveyor, has promised to strengthen the body through the establishment of best practices by the various professional bodies.

Besides, he said that his administration would also endeavour to beef-up the corporate image of the body through strategic marketing campaign/communication and harness into the fold some member bodies or affiliates who are playing critical roles in the economic development of this country in their various fields of specialization.

In his acceptance speech as the 12th president of APBN, which he delivered at the 26th Annual General Meeting Assembly of the body in Lagos at the weekend, he said that the ‘APBN is at an important cross-road’ with very many challenges.

According to him, the body would take some of these challenges head-on to help re-establish and redefine its role; recreate the road map towards achieving its goals and objectives and add value to the member bodies participation in the association.

He said: “In all these endeavours my council will not claim monopoly of knowledge, we will be interactive with member bodies- we will create synergy through constant interface and dialogue. In this regard, we will put in place a think-tank comprising representative of all the sectoral interest groups who will be charged with tinkering with how APBN can bring relevance and their expertise to bear on this nation.”

Ajanlekoko said the council would also get APBN to perform its role not only as the voice of the professionals but indeed to become the vagus of the professionals, challenging, upscaling and setting standards that would get us the world class status which will be a source of joy and a pride of all the

professionals in this country.

“We will engage governments at all levels national, state, down to local governments in robust discussion in order to ensure that professionals are duly engaged in the day to day administration/governance of the country. We have been left for too long in this regard... we might and should be the catalyst for the desired change that has long eluded the country,” he said.

The new APBN president also saluted the vision of the founding father and the past presidents for their foresightedness, adding that vision is just a point in the horizon that will be reached only at some date in the future that is now.

Immediate past president of the body, Mr Jimoh Faworaja, an architect, said APBN was looking forward to the rest of 2010 and the years ahead with great optimism and confidence in the country. He said the 50th anniversary of the country this year was a significant milestone which should also mark the turning point for the country.

He said: “As a nation, we must keep hope alive and embrace change. As professionals, we are the agent of change and development and must continually be in the vanguard of this. The current situation of global affairs presents challenges and opportunities. Nigeria will surely survive if we strategise and get our priorities right.”

He added that it was gratifying to note that professionals were getting into the mainstream of the nations activities through the Public Private Partnership (PPP). This, he said, could only yield greater dividends for the country. “That is why I seek your greater participation in APBN activities to put the professionals in the front seat for national development,” he said.

The AGA cumulated in the election of second vice-president of the APBN where a past president of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) emerged and the inauguration of council member that will run the affairs of the body for the next two years.

They’ve been called McMansions, Starter Castles, Garage Mahals and Faux Chateaus but here’s the latest thing you can call them - History. Real-estate site Trulia declares: