Fashola Inaugurates Members Of Town Planners Registration Council Of Nigeria The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, CON, has inaugurated a new twelve members of the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC). The inauguration took place at the conference hall of the Federal Ministry of Works abd Housing, Mabushi, Abuja. Fashola, while inaugurating the new Council members,  charged them not to only uphold the standard and guidelines of the profession but raise them because it is only by doing this that the challenges faced in urban planning and development could be surmounted. He explained that the essence of constituting the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria was to ensure that the country has a professional council that would in turn ensure that the professional Town Planners are registered as members of the Council. The Minister also stated that the twelve members were representatives of their different states, adding that as more members are appointed from other states, they would join the council in accordance to the law. In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, FCI, noted that the presence of well - disciplined and adequately regulated professionals in the built environment, would improve the quality of output of the professionals and invariably contribute to the quality of the environment, construction, infrastructure and national development.   He said that, TOPREC, as a critical Agency of Government under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing had the statutory mandate to regulate and control the practice of the profession of physical planning in all ramification in Nigeria. “TOPREC Mandate includes: determining who are town planners as well as knowledge and skills required for registration of anyone who desires to practice the profession in Nigeria" he said Alkali revealed that the Minister approved the re- constitution of the new members of the Council after the expiration of the tenure of the former ones in consonance with the provision of Section 2(1) of the Town Planners Registration Council of Registration (TOPREC) Act 2004. In his remark, the President of the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria, Tpl Isiaku Mukhtar Kura, while encouraging the newly inaugurated  members to form  a habit to read and meditate on the Act that established the council,  explained that being  members  of the council was a call to service that would involve sacrificing their  time  and resources. Tpl Kura who conveyed the council's gratitude to the Minister for the periodic subvention given to it, also informed the Minister that the Council has been able to build a Secretariat at Jahi district in Abuja. The twelve TOPREC members inaugurated are; Tpl Dr. Simon Kanobi -Osoww Ajom, Cross River State, Tpl Danbaba Umar Idris,vNiger state, Tpl. Liman Gana, Borno State, Tpl. Ogunlewe Adebisi Adesoga, Lagos state, Tpl Aniekan Ubong Akpan Cross River,Tpl. Davies Tonte Joseph, Rivers State, Tpl. Aliyu Abubakar Mohammad, Jigawa state and Tpl Ogbugo Victor Filzgerald representing Delta state. ...

Minister Inaugurates National Habitat Advisory Committee ...... FG to address the negative impact of flooding - Fashola Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, CON has inaugurated an 11- man National Advisory  Committee on Habitat with the Permanent  Secretary , Works and Housing  Bashir Nura Alkali as the Chairman. Fashola performed the inauguration at  the 2022 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day held in Abuja.  The theme of the 2022 World Habitat Day is “ Mind the Gap, Leave No One and Place Behind" and that of the World Cities Day " Act Local To go Global" In his keynote address, the Minister also said, the report of the negative impact of the flood on roads , bridges and infrastructures nationwide was being compiled by his ministry. " I will be receiving the reports from all the Federal Controllers of Works across Nigeria whom we have asked to go round and assess the impact of the flood on the damaged bridges , roads  and infrastructures and put a cost to it , so that we can respond to people in distress and crisis" he said . In the same vein  Fashola said that the striking similarity between the theme of this year’s World Habitat Day “Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind,” and that of the recently held 11th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, which had the theme “Housing our People, by All of Government and All Our People, tells us Nigeria is already in line with the habitat objective. Accordingly, he explained that  the initiatives of the Federal Government in housing affordability and acceptability and the impact of the construction industry on the people in employment generation. Explaining further he said that, the federal government is undertaking the construction of national housing programme in 35 states including FCT,  and called for the collaboration of all stakeholders since housing provision is essentially a collaborative effort by all levels of government and the private sector. On the situation of Cities globally, the Minister stated that cities account for 75 per cent of the world’s energy consumption and are responsible for over 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with transport, buildings, energy, while waste management forms the bulk of urban carbon emissions.“ He explained that  " The future of our planet depends on national, regional and local governments and organisations, communities, academic institutions and the private sector working together to create sustainable, carbon-neutral, inclusive cities and towns". Earlierin his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Works and Housing who was represented at the event by Director Highways Development Engr Ibi Terna said "as the world builds and consolidates the foundation of the New Urban Agenda , urgent steps are required to rectify past imperfections by recognising fully that development is an evolutionary assignment that cannot be entirely resolved by one agency acting alone". The theme of the 2022 World Habitat Day as stated earlier is intended to draw attention to growing inequalities and vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated by the triple "C" crises namely: Covid 19, Climate Change and Conflict. Tackling urban congestion and inequality have become an urgent global priority and Nigeria is not less concerned" he said. The statement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations,  António Guterres read by Mr. M. Okunola said " this year world habit day focused on human living condition and we must pledge to share responsibility to one another so that no one would be left behind" In her remarks, the Executive Director, The United Nations Human Settlement Programme, Maimunah Mohammed Sharif, said “ The  UN Habit World City Report estimates that up to 163 million newly poor people now live in cities and urban areas " She said "if city managers have the right tools they can plan and take action to reduce the gap between the haves and have not , that way we will be able to create inclusive and resilient human settlements". The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGS ), Dr. Bala.Yusuf-Yunusa said Nigeria is already committed to improving the lives of it's citizens in many ways. He said " the economic sustaibility plan (2020 ) following Covid 19 pandemic , the National poverty reduction with growth strategy of 2021 and indeed the new national development plan 2021 -2025 have all been inspired by the SDGs and the cardinal objectives of this administration notably the economy, security , fight against corruption and lifting Nigerians out of poverty, so Nigeria is committed to improving the lives of the citizens “ In his goodwill message , the Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)  Madu Hamman said “ We have to reflect on the sustaining challenges surrounding the humans settlement and our general environment as a people .” He said FMBN has established partneserhsip with various stakeholders to be able to deliver affordable housing and better environment for Nigerians The President of Nigeria Labour Congress Comrade Ayuba Philibus Wabba who was represented by Dr Upah Benson said Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN ) should be strenghtend in order to serve people more efficiently and to also increase the capacity of Nigerian builders. Country Director UN -Habitat Urban Thinkers Dr Hajia Limeta underscored the contribution of women in providing sustainability of the environment. She said " No sustainable urbanisation without women agenda "   ...

Nura Alkali Charges Delegates at the 27th Conference of Directors of Lands on Eliminating Conflict Areas. The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali, has charged Directors of Lands in the Federal and State Ministries, Agencies and Departments to dwell on areas that will eliminate conflict areas among operators at the three tiers of government. Alkali gave the charge in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the 27th Conference of Directors of Lands in the Federal and State Ministries, Agencies and Departments going on at Rockview Hotels, Abuja on Wednesday, 12th October,2022. The Theme of the conference is "The Land Use Act on Land Management, Responsibilities of the Federating Units." The Permanent Secretary explained that the conference would not only enhance efficiency and effectiveness but also afford the professionals and experts the opportunity to come up with modalities for efficient, effective land administration and management in the country. "As you interrogate the sub themes for the next two days, l urge you to critically examine the land administration/management issues comprised under the Land Use Act with a view to coming up with solutions particularly aimed at eliminating areas of conflict among the operators at the three tiers of the federation," Alkali said. In his keynote address, Director and Head of Department, Lands and Housing Development Department in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Estate Surveyor Godwin Ityoachimin, explained that the conference would address the limitations of each tier of government and establish boundaries in relation to the Land Use Act. He noted that delegates would discuss and identify the responsibilities of both the Federal and State Governments as enshrined in the law. Esv. Ityoachimin pointed out that the federal government had consistently been faced with challenges   relating to the other tiers of government on issues bothering on land administration, acquisition and compensation because the state government believes that the land in the state is owned by it, noting that state governors would move into the properties owned by the federal government and pulled them down without due process. He further argued that the impression of governors owning the land was a misconception as well as misleading, pointing out that the correct intent of the Land Use Act is that governors are trustees under the Act and not owners. He explained that Section 49(2) of the Land Use Act requirement is that the use of land by the federal government is dictated by public interest. The Director also said that Federal Government as a Corporate entity has the right to own and manage properties.     He noted that if the limitations of each tier, from the Federal to the Local Governments are clearly identified and stated, the challenges the Federal Government go through would be eliminated. "Our thinking is that we shall be able to deliberate on this limitations and work within the time frame of the limit permitted by the Law, a lot of challenges government go through particularly at the states level will be eliminated. It will enhance the process and relationship among the tiers of government, and the ultimate delivery of the impact and dividends of democracy,"Ityoachimin remarked. The outcome of the conference will impact positively on the relationship among the tiers of government, land administration processes will impact positively on the economy, wealth creation and prosperity of Nigerians. In his goodwill message, the Chairman Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, Esv. Gersh Henshaw, suggested that it would be important to establish the Land Use and Allocation Committee in the states and the Land Advisory Allocation Committees at the Local Governments level, noting that their findings and resolutions would guide the state governors in making decisions on land administration, acquisition and compensation. ...