Dangote refinery, free trade zone lift Lagos real estate

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On-going public and private sector synergy leading to the development of Dangote Refinery Project and Lagos Free Trade Zone (FTZ) have been received by the real estate community last week with mixed feelings, with the leadership of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) decrying the non-involvement of members in the investment opportunities along the Ibeju-Lekki axis.
   
The projects were the focus of NIESV Lagos branch’s 2017 Business Luncheon under the theme: The Dangote Refinery Project and FTZ – Capturing the Real Estate Opportunities organized by the MCPD sub -committee.
     
The guest speaker, Mr. Paul Osaji, an estate surveyor, disclosed that some private sector developers as well as the Lagos State Government have provided housing within the neighbourhood of the Lekki Free Trade Zone and Dangote Refinery Site for the workers at these locations. 

   
He stated that the developers of Sapphire Garden – (POC Nigeria Limited) and Eko Akete (Lagos State Government) have provided accommodation for about 1,000 staff of Dangote refineries.  Other developers and estate outside the zone are providing accommodation for the skilled and unskilled workers working in the zone.
 
Chairman of the Lagos branch of the Institution, Mr Offing Samuel Ukpong, who set the tune of the event, lamented that despite the huge investments in the Ibeju-Lekki corridor, the land economists have not tapped into the opportunities created by the projects. 
  
He said that members should be interested in the land values of these investments, relocation of existing dwellers outside the three kilometers radius of the plant, compensation and land uses surrounding the area.
   
The Regional Director, Lagos, First City Monument Bank, Bukola Smith, noted that the  real estate sector as other sectors of the economy has been severely beaten as there are reduction in occupancy rates, adding that despite all these opportunities  exist for the sector. 
 
NIESV Deputy President, Emmanuel Wike, said the Institution is built on continuous learning and new trends are emerging in technology, if the members refuse to follow, they will lose steam in the global community.
 
He said that Lagos branch is setting another pace by going to valuation and other business opportunities surrounding a proposed business venture that is bringing huge financial benefit to the country. Wike urged the branch members to work towards becoming a major player in the proposed project.
   
  

  

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Nestle leads gainers on NSE, as investors stake N12.5b

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PHOTO: blogs.reuters.com

Nestle Nigeria Plc traded higher at the end of last week’s transactions on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). It led nine others with 16.96 per cent to close at N734.99 per share.

Following Nestle last week was Unilever, adding 11.46 per cent to close at N32.30 per share. NEM added 9.64 per cent to close at N0.91 per share, Honey well gained 5.00 per cent to close at N1.05 per share, while Continental Reinsurance appreciated by 4.95 per cent to close at N1.06 per share. Paints and Coating Manufacturing also gained 4.84 per cent to close at N0.65 per share.

Consequently, a total turnover of 1.024 billion shares worth N12.464 billion was recorded in 16,400 deals by investors, in contrast to a total of 1.387 billion shares valued at N13.726 billion that changed hands last week in 15,422 deals.

The financial services industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 850.758 million shares valued at N7.083 billion traded in 10,358 deals; thus contributing 83.12per cent and 56.83 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The consumer goods industry followed with 78.421 million shares worth N3.900 billion in 2,545 deals. The conglomerates industry occupied the third place with a turnover of 46.196 million shares worth N70.668 million in 536 deals.

Trading in top three equities namely – Zenith International Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and FBN Holdings Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 412.251 million shares worth N4.234 billion in 4,633 deals, contributing 40.27 and 33.97 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 1,020 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N51,316 executed in four deals. However, there were no trades recorded in Exchange Traded Products last week

The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation appreciated by 0.90 per cent to close the week at 25,238.01 and N8.734 trillion respectively. Similarly, all other indices finished higher during the week with the exception of the NSE Oil/Gas and NSE Industrial Goods indices that depreciated by 2.36 per cent and 2.94 per cent respectively while the ASEM Index closed flat

About 24 equities appreciated in price during the week, same as last week, 31 equities depreciated in price, higher than 24 equities of the previous week, while 122 equities remained unchanged lower than 129 equities recorded in the preceding week.

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Governance and the fight against climate change

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The role of government in the fight against climate change is to coordinate the process of decision-making, engage stakeholders, ensure accountability, maintain positive political will and develop relevant policies that will confront the menace of climate change. The process of stakeholder engagement and policy development should include the Federal Government, state governments, local governments, civil societies, media, environmentalists, organised private sector and indeed all relevant stakeholders.

Effective fight against climate change should involve linking the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emission with the existing effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nigeria’s commitment in the Paris Agreement is to reduce her carbon emission by 20% unconditionally and 45% conditionally. Goal 7 of the SDGs is on clean and affordable energy, goal 11 is on sustainable cities and communities, goal 13 is on climate action. Even goals 6, 14, 15 of the SDGs also has bearing on the fight against climate change.

It is, therefore, the duty of the government to harness the potential in the synergy of implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. The government needs to make a categorical decision whether the fight against climate change will be implemented with existing structures or a new structure will need to be created. However, the structure must be within the government. It is very necessary to seek gender balance in the structure since the women folk are more susceptible to the effects of climate change than their male counterparts.

A review of how Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the fight against climate change was developed is necessary as this will ease the process of appropriately prioritising aspects of the fight against climate change. A review of the existing governance landscape should also be done. Key national and sectoral low-emission development strategies will have to be reviewed to be in line with Nigeria’s commitment at the Paris Agreement. The extent to which existing structures support climate change mitigation and adaptation needs to be defined. Also, the extent to which the NDC either collates what is on ground or sets new goals needs to be defined. The institutional arrangements to fight climate change across the 36 states and local government areas need to be defined. There should also be synergy between key government ministries, departments and agencies.

This should include sharing information relevant to NDC implementation and coordination on cross cutting issues. These responsibilities should be documented within legislation to provide the maximum mandate or could be in form of publicly available written statements. Resources should also be provided to support NDC implementation. This should include budgeting for the central climate change structure, state governments, local governments, ministries, departments and agencies to carry out their functions. Budgeting for NDC implementation should also be mainstreamed into the medium term expenditure framework which is a three-year national financial plan.

Capacity building is also necessary for those that will implement the NDC.There is need to identify existing capacity across government institutions and then develop support programmes to build capacity. This should include building expertise for using appropriate tools, charts and risk registers; understanding the Paris Agreement and developments at international climate negotiations; understanding wider government policy, economic and development plans as well as sector all master plans; diverse partnerships in order to manage needs across government and non-governmental stakeholders; capacity building on gender mainstreaming for implementing MDAs; more coordinated work across key ministries to drive national climate agenda. There is also need to improve institutional memory.

This involves establishing processes that will retain knowledge within institutions such as robust archiving of data, recording of decisions taken as well as the justification for taking them. Legal frameworks for NDC implementation should also be developed. The legal framework would strengthen the political will and formalise governance processes. The legal framework will provide long term mitigation and adaptation targets to guide discussions about ambition; powers to obtain information or data relevant to climate policy; powers to make secondary legislations to achieve climate actions; a clear definition of the roles and responsibilities of government MDAs as well as the mandate of the central climate structure.
Martins Eke is the Programme Officer, Environment at Centre for Social Justice, Abuja.

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Kanchelskis warns United of Rostov threat

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Kanchelskis

Former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis warned the Premier League giants against complacency in next week’s Europa League last 16 first-leg clash against unfancied Rostov.

Last year’s Russian league runners-up are competing in their first full season in Europe and claimed a stunning victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stages before dropping down into the Europa League.

They have lost just once in their past seven European home games — a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in October — and recorded a thumping 6-0 win at Tom Tomsk on Friday in their first game after the long domestic winter break.

“Rostov have played just a few matches against Europe’s top clubs but in the upcoming match Man United will discover what it feels like to come up against a really well-organised team,” Kanchelskis, who won back-to-back titles with United in 1993 and 1994, told Sport Express daily.

The ex-Russian international believes Rostov have little chance of pulling off an upset with United boss Jose Mourinho chasing the only European trophy that still eludes the English giants.

“Any trophy matters. Only fools can say that the Europa League is not important,” he said. “There is no doubt that Mourinho understands clearly that the more trophies he wins the more authority he gains.

“Of course Rostov have a chance to advance. But their hopes are slim, Manchester are clear favourites.”

Rostov were founded in 1930 as the team of a local factory churning out agricultural machinery during the early days of the Soviet Union.

After years of playing in the Soviet lower leagues, they won promotion to the Russian top flight in 1992, just after the fall of the USSR.

The club was renamed FC Rostov in 2003 following decades as Rostselmash and won their only trophy in 2014, when they beat Krasnodar in the Russian Cup final on penalties.

“It will be very interesting to play Man United,” Rostov’s Romanian midfielder Andrei Prepelita told UEFA.com.

“They have top players and a top coach, but we also performed well in Europe this season and beat Bayern Munich. It’s nice to start at home. Hopefully, the Russian frost will help us.”

The club’s set-up is an intriguing one with Kurban Berdyev, the man who led Rubin Kazan to back-to-back Russian titles in 2008 and 2009, still a figure of considerable authority despite stepping down as manager last year.

He was subsequently appointed vice-president and continues to oversee training, while assistant coach Dmitry Kirichenko takes charge from the dugout during matches.

Despite being officially in charge, head coach Ivan Daniliants is largely responsible for carrying out the team’s media duties.

– Security fears –

The game in Rostov has unsurprisingly raised security concerns with English and Russian fans set to cross paths for the first time since clashing at last year’s European Championship in France.

A documentary aired by the BBC last month, entitled “Russia’s Hooligan Army”, showed Russian fans predicting further violence between supporters at the 2018 World Cup in Russia — especially targeting British fans.

But Rostov officials dismissed fears of hooligan attacks against visiting fans in the southern Russian city and guaranteed full security for travelling supporters.

“We expect around 300 United supporters to attend the match and I can assure them they have nothing to worry about,” Viktor Kuleshov, Rostov’s head of security, told AFP.

“We have not planned any extraordinary (security) measures. No incidents with the visiting fans took place at our previous European home matches and we do not expect any problems on Thursday.

“Nevertheless we increased the number of stewards at this match and will set up some additional buffer zones between the visiting fans and Rostov supporters.”

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Mavin Records Signs 3 New Artists, Poe, DNA & Johnny Drille

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Mavin Records has activated 3 new signings to the Supreme Mavin Dynasty.

The artists includes first ever Mavin rapper the talented “Poe” , the group DNA as well as multitalented singer Johnny Drille. I am particularly happy about Poe, its been a long time coming. Now lets wait for their new singles to drop.
Watch

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Controversy over N3.2b fraud charge against PenCom director general (Read full details)

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Chinelo Anohu-Amazu

The Nigeria Police Force have commenced the interrogation of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) Director-General, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, over allegation of embezzling N3.2b, tax evasion, total disregard of court orders and other unlawful activities, leveled against it by the First Guarantee Pensions Limited (FGPL).

The move was based on the refusal of the company to comply with the directives of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, that the board of FGPL, headed by Nze Chidi Duru, in accordance with the board resolutions should continue their business at FGPL.

The commencement of the investigation was as a result of the Inspector-General of Police order to the Police Zone 2 Headquarters to enforce the directives of the Attorney General on the matter.

Meanwhile, PenCom yesterday denied that the company was being questioned.The Guardian learnt that between Thursday, January 12, 2017 to Monday, January 17, the embattled FGPL Vice Chairman, Duru and his Legal Adviser, Barrister Smart Iheazor were arrested and detained by the AIG Zone 2, Lagos, allegedly on the order of Director-General of PenCom, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, and others were arraigned in Magistrate Court, Tinubu, Lagos, in connection with issues of FGPL belonging to Duru and other shareholders, which the court have dealt with.

Duru had sought the protection of the police through the Inspector General of Police and his request granted, but now claim that the police on wrong information turned around to arrest and arraign him and his legal adviser for armed robbery and other allegations.

The officer in charge of the investigation was contacted on phone yesterday and he confirmed that the investigation of the PenCom boss was ongoing, but refused to make further comment, noting that he is a civil servant and could not talk to journalists. said all enquiries should be forwarded to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who is in the best position to comment on the matter.

Police Spokesman at the force headquarters, Mr. Jimoh Moshood denied any directive to investigate the DG saying ”I am not aware.” But a source in the force confirmed that the interrogation had commenced, noting that it was the company secretary that attended to the police investigation team.

Head, Corporate Communication of PenCom, Mr. Emeka Onourah said no security personnel were anywhere near the DG yesterday, even as he said PenCom has resolved not to comment on the issue because the matter is pending in several courts.

Meanwhile, FGPL has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate PenCom over the allegations.

The petitioner said its shareholders are appalled by the desperate and unlawful positions that Amazu and PenCom have continued to take, claiming the company has been responsible for mismanagement of FGPL for six years.

Smart Iheazor, company secretary and legal adviser who signed the petition on behalf of FGPL, faulted those denying the allegation, saying he was invited by the police in Lagos to endorse the petition following the IG’s directive to investigate the matter.

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These Photos Of Deepika Padukone Goofing Around Before The Oscars Parties Are Too Cute…Read full details

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Although we didn’t see Deepika Padukone walk the Oscars red carpet, she did attend a few events surrounding the big night: the Vanity Fair after party, the Women In Film pre-Oscar party, and the Charles Finch and Chanel pre-Oscar dinner. She looked gorgeous at all of these events, but what we particularly love are those behind-the-scenes photos of her while getting dressed:

Before last night, before make up and hair, in a fitting, that moment when a woman feels so good in a dream dress that you know it's hers @deepikapadukone x @moniquelhuillier #oscars #vanityfair #goodnight

A post shared by Elizabeth Saltzman (@elizabethsaltzman) on Feb 27, 2017 at 4:19am PST

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When you've flown in from India and your stylist says go go go and your bed says stay stay stay so you meet halfway and then you go go go @deepikapadukone

A post shared by Elizabeth Saltzman (@elizabethsaltzman) on Feb 25, 2017 at 10:37pm PST

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Love the caption on the last one. What a cutie!

The post These Photos Of Deepika Padukone Goofing Around Before The Oscars Parties Are Too Cute is copyright of MissMalini.

Source: Miss Malini

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Ukraine’s first wheelchair model breaks taboos…Read full details

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TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY OLGA SHYLENKO<br />Ukrainian fashion designer Fedir Vozianovmakes (L) makes adjustments to a creation worn by Ukrainian model Alexandra Kutas, who is in a wheelchair since birth due to cerebral palsy, prior to a photo and video fashion shoot in Kiev on January 25, 2017. Kutas, 23, is Ukraine's first model with a disability to headline a runway event of this level, after covering a long and thorny path for her dream to come true.<br />Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP

When Alexandra Kutas headlined a recent fashion show in Kiev it was not just a personal dream come true but also a victory for disabled people in her homeland Ukraine.

Wearing a long, black dress, she wowed the crowd as she was carried across the catwalk on a wooden throne by four trim men, becoming the first model with a disability to take the lead in a high-profile event in the country.

“I had the idea that I wanted to do a catwalk and show that a girl in a wheelchair can be perceived as a first-class professional”, she told AFP. For 23-year-old Kutas, it was the latest stage in a long journey.

In a wheelchair since birth due to cerebral palsy, she had struggled for years to make it as a model in the ex-Soviet state where disabled people all too often get left behind.

Kutas sent letters to modelling agencies — but the response was always the same polite refusals.

“They told me that I am very pretty, but they do not know how to promote me because the market is still not ready for this”, says Kutas.

– ‘Huge inspiration’ –
Kutas was born in Dnipro city, in the east of Ukraine, and went to an ordinary school. It was a bold step to take in 2000, when inclusive education was rare.

There were no ramps or elevators for special needs children in schools, so Kutas’s father or grandfather had to carry her up the stairs so that she could study with the other children.

“Yes, it was difficult, but it is generally difficult to be a person with limited physical mobility in our country. Everyone knows that,” Kutas says.

In 2012, Kutas was having lunch in a cafe when a photographer approached her and asked if she wanted to become a model.

She agreed and loved the process of having her picture taken so much that she soon began looking for other photographers to work with.

“When I realised that I wanted to do this, there did not seem to be a single model with a disability in the world”, Kutas says, recalling how she conducted a search for role models to follow and found none.

And then she suddenly came across a 1999 show of Alexander McQueen, the late British designer, where Aimee Mullins, a world-class Paralympic athlete, modelled in his statuesque and beautiful prosthetic legs.

“It was a huge stimulus for me, a huge inspiration. I wondered why, if it was possible back then, in 1999, why it could not be possible now for a girl in the wheelchair?”

When the Italian house FTL Moda invited models with disabilities to participate in New York Fashion Week recently, Kutas felt that the world was finally ready for a change.

– ‘Potential is hidden’ –
Fedir Vozianov, a 55-year-old Ukrainian designer, never expected the domestic market to be ready for such a dramatic change.

But when he met Kutas and saw her confidence, Vozianov says he understood that he, himself, was willing to give it a go. “People are not all the same — we are all different in this world”, Vozianov says.

“It would be strange to cut a part of this world off at the podium.” Today Kutas is not only a rising model, but also an adviser to the mayor in her native city.

She helps to adapt the city to the needs of disabled people, which is especially important due to the conflict between government forces and Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine’s east that has claimed more than 10,000 lives and wounded 23,000 people.

“I know that now is the moment that Ukraine simply cannot miss,” she says.

“It is always possible to grow, to evolve, to do something. The main thing is to create the conditions for these people whose great potential is hidden”.

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Maritime stakeholders to brainstorm on cargo handling charges

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Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment,Okechukwu Enelamah, who was the keynote speaker, described the award as “a welcome initiative and an avenue for inspiring greatness.”<br />

All is set for a one-day town hall meeting on “Cargo Handling and Port Charges” scheduled to hold in Lagos, to evaluate the state of port operations, quality of services and the factors that determine appropriate cargo handling charges.

This Followed a recent audit report that revealed that private terminal operators in Nigerian ports lost about N58.9 billion to the rising foreign exchange scarcity, Consumer Price Index (CPI), and others, in eight years,

The town hall scheduled for March 8, will be chaired by the Minister of Transportation and former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and will feature stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and her Industry, Trade and Investment counterpart, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, are also expected as special guests of honour.

Among the issues to be discussed are: the level of competitiveness of Nigerian ports, templates for port pricing; availability and efficiency of cargo handling equipment; impact of foreign exchange and government’s fiscal policies; and abuse of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) Protocol by shippers.

A statement by the organisers of the town hall meeting, noted that since the concession of the ports to private terminal operators over 10 years ago, Nigeria’s economy has undergone fundamental changes characterised by exchange rate vagaries and fiscal policy reviews.

These, they said, “have impacted substantially on the level of service delivery at the ports.“Importers, manufacturers and other port users alongside service providers have a lot of outstanding issues the failure of which to resolve have affected the growth of the industry. These will be addressed at the town hall with policy makers and users of shipping services all poised to make their case,” the statement said.

Also expected as discussants and lead presenters are private terminal operators, shipping agencies, chambers of commerce, trade groups, freight forwarders and banks. Others are statutory agencies, including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers Council, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as well as marine transport committees of both arms of the National Assembly.

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Haven Homes set to boost operations, appoints GM

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Haven Homes’ 2016 design

Sublime developer of lifestyle, havens Homes has appointed Mrs Ufuoma Ilesanmi as its General Manager.Prior to her elevation, Mrs Ilesanmi was previously an Assistant General Manager in the firm.

This was contained in a statement signed by the firm’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Tayo Sonuga.The appointment took effect from 1st January, 2017.

Mrs Ufuoma Ilesanmi holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the Covenant University, Otta.In 2014 she also obtained a Master’s of Science in Strategic Marketing at Stafford Manchester University, United Kingdom.

Barely 28years old and at an age when majority of her peers are serving their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) or tinkering with their first jobs, she is arguably the youngest General Manager or Chief Operating Officer in the Real Estate Industry.

She joined the services of Haven Global Resources Limited in 2011 as Corporate Manager, rose to the position of Assistant General Manager in 2014 before the recent promotion.

Earlier, Mrs Ufuoma Ilesanmi acquired a string of brief engagements as Assistant Human Resources Manager with Frontier Oil & Gas Limited in 2010 and later as Marketer in the country’s office of The First Group, a realty outfit based in Dubai.

Mrs Ufuoma Ilesanmi an intelligent, passionate and well-organized Manager whose high performance partly accounts for the reason why Haven Homes is top of the ladder in Real Estate Market.

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