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Home Ownership would be Elusive to Majority Without Single Digit Financing, Says REDAN
Home Ownership would be Elusive to Majority Without Single Digit Financing, Says REDAN
By: Michael Mike
The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has said that home ownership would continue to be elusive to majority of Nigerians without a single digit financing opportunity.
Speaking at the Capacity Development Conference for Developers in Abuja, the President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko said in order to achieve government housing plan for Nigeria, interest on loan for building purpose should be drastically lower to a single digit.
He said: “Finance is one of the essentials of our business, hence our focus on how to get facility to build homes at cost that the average Nigerian will be able to afford. We are keen on how our Members can secure long tenured and single digit debt financing without which home ownership will remain elusive, as it is a fact that real estate development is capital intensive and requires a lot of outlay.
He noted that the conference is aimed at capacity development for our REDAN members and has as theme: “Enhancing Investment and Finance Opportunities for Sustainable Real Estate Projects.”
Wamakko said: “The essence of this auspicious event is to further build the knowledge base of our members to be able to manage the multidimensional and multidisciplinary challenges involved in real estate business. It is also to increase our capacity to reduce waste and ensure timely delivery of projects. The knowledge from this conference will greatly help in reducing the incidence of building collapse as there is a specific session for the subtheme.”
He said: “We are concerned that our members comply with all extant laws and be ambassadors of improving and contributing to the growth of the national economy, hence we have invited relevant regulatory organisations to update members on Real Estate Developers Role in the emerging economy.”
Presenting a paper: “Who We Are! Building Collapse Prevention Guild,” the President of Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Yusuf Sulaimon, said the action of Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development of introducing the Certified Accreditors Programme to increase manpower and increase professionalism in ensuring compliance to building regulations by developers and to help identify buildings that needs to be decommissioned before they end up collapsing, should be copied by other states to end instances of building collapse.
He also advised that REDAN should also create a monitoring team to monitor construction activities and ensure compliance with government regulations, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) needs to be proactive in ensuring that only quality building materials are in the market, each LCDA should have Building Artisans training Centers to equip the Artisans with requisite knowledge required.
Sulaimon also said the Building Code and Regulations should be amended to include civil punishment to those that flout the building code flagrantly, regular review and update of the building code and regulations to ensure that it is up to standard and best practices, corruption in the building plan approval processing should be frown upon such that developers build according to the plans approved by government.
He said the whistle blowers should be protected and ensure their reports are worked upon and rewarded, if possible, proper planning, supervision and monitoring of construction activities should be institutionalized by policy makers to ensure that all buildings are constructed according to design, specifications, and planning regulations, professionals in the building industry should maintain their integrity and professional ethics and work in accordance with standard practice procedures laid down by the standard form of building contracts especially when they play in the hands of ignorant clients.
Sulaimon equally said urban or town development agencies at various levels of government (Commission, Board, Authority) should enforce control of building works in their localities as laid down in urban and regional planning decree 88, of 1992 and as in section 13 of National Building Code 2006, there is need to organize periodic public awareness campaign through electronic and print media to sensitize the public on advantages of using professionals as the way of realizing safe buildings, and that all building professionals play key roles to actualize their respective obligations during building production, using the wrong professionals at any stage of the building process put the building in danger. It is the duty of the architect as the prime consultant to direct the client to use the right professionals. This he achieves by ensuring that the structural and services drawings brought to his office are stamped and signed by professionals registered by their respective professional bodies before proceeding to planning authority for “building permit”.
He added that soil investigation, material tests and environmental impact assessment (E.I.A) should be made compulsories for all institutional, industrial and commercial buildings.
Home Ownership would be Elusive to Majority Without Single Digit Financing, Says REDAN
News
Youth attempt to disarm soldiers enforcing curfew in Niger
Youth attempt to disarm soldiers enforcing curfew in Niger
By: Zagazola Makama
Some youths in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State allegedly attempted to disarm soldiers enforcing a curfew before fleeing the scene, security sources have said.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred at about 10:35 p.m. on March 10 when troops of the 221 Battalion, Wawa Cantonment, were on patrol to enforce the curfew declared by the Chairman of Borgu Local Government.
According to the sources, the troops were patrolling along the Correctional Service Office area in New Bussa when they intercepted some motorcycles.
During the encounter, some aggressive youths reportedly began stoning the soldiers and attempted to struggle with them in a bid to seize a rifle, while also hurling abusive language.
The troops fired warning shots into the air to disperse the youths, who later fled the scene.
The Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service subsequently reported the incident to the police.
Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in New Bussa immediately mobilised more security personnel to the area, but the youths had already dispersed.
Community leaders, including the village head, were later invited and cautioned to maintain peace and ensure residents avoid confrontations or misunderstandings with security personnel.
Security sources said no arrest was made and no injury was recorded, while the military troops continued their patrol in the area.
Youth attempt to disarm soldiers enforcing curfew in Niger
News
ISWAP appoints Abu Ameer as new pulka commander after neutralization of Modu Kundiri
ISWAP appoints Abu Ameer as new pulka commander after neutralization of Modu Kundiri
By: Zagazola Makama
Following the recent neutralization of Modu Kundiri, the senior commander (Qa’id) of Pulka camp in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has appointed a replacement to sustain its operational command in the area.
Intelligence reports obtained on the evening of March 11, 2026, revealed that ISWAP leadership quickly designated Abu Ameer as the new commander (Qa’id) of Pulka camp. The move pointed out to the group’s efforts in maintaining command continuity despite recent setbacks.
Kundiri had served as the senior commander, also known as Qa’id, of the group’s Pulka camp, a strategic operational hub located in the southern axis of Borno near the border with Adamawa State and Cameroon.
Pulka occupies a critical position in the insurgency landscape due to its geographical proximity to the border regions linking Borno State with Adamawa State and neighbouring Cameroon.
The area has historically served as a transit corridor for insurgent fighters, logistics supplies and communication networks operating across multiple theatres.
According to intelligence discussions intercepted on March 11, fighters loyal to the group are still present in Ngalta village, located between Pulka in Gwoza LGA and Madagali Local Government Area in Adamawa State.
The disclosure reportedly came during internal exchanges among insurgent members, where a fighter identified as Konto informed another member, Manya, about the continued presence of fighters in the area.
Such conversations indicated that despite losing commanders, the group continues to maintain operational cells and surveillance elements within the Pulka–Ngalta–Madagali corridor.
The continued presence of fighters in Ngalta village suggests that the insurgents may still retain limited operational capability along the Borno–Adamawa border axis. Such locations often function as temporary regrouping points or staging areas for movement between remote settlements.
The development therefore point to the need for sustained intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and coordinated ground operations across the corridor.
Zagazola emphasise the importance of maintaining strong collaboration between military forces, local vigilante groups and community intelligence networks to detect insurgent movement.
The development comes amid ongoing operations by the Nigerian military to dismantle ISWAP strongholds across the Northeast and reinforce stability in affected communities.
ISWAP appoints Abu Ameer as new pulka commander after neutralization of Modu Kundiri
News
Buni attends funeral prayers of Wali Shettima, elder brother, in Nauru
Buni attends funeral prayers of Wali Shettima, elder brother, in Nauru
By: Yahaya Wakili
The Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, and other top government functionaries attended today the funeral prayers for Ba Wali Shettima, elder brother to Yobe State Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali mni, in Nguru town of Yobe State.
Ably represented by his deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana (Wazirin Fune), the funeral prayers were led by the chief imam of Nguru Central Mosque, Shiek Ibrahim Shehu Ahmad.
The governor described the death of the renowned Islamic scholar Ba Wali as a huge loss not only to the Nguru community but to the whole Yobe state.
Gubana further extolled the virtues of the late Ba Wali as a committed and dedicated cleric, an epitome of peace and knowledge who contributed his own quota towards teaching and propagating Islam.
Late Ba Wali died at the University Teaching Hospital, Damaturu, on Tuesday after a protracted illness at the age of 80. He is survived by a wife, ten (10) children, and many grandchildren.
Special prayers were offered by Chief Imam Shiek Ibrahim Shehu Ahmad. May Aljanna Firdausi be the reward of his good deeds. Amin, suma Amin.
Buni attends funeral prayers of Wali Shettima, elder brother, in Nauru
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