Business
Afribank Unveils Estate In Lagos
In order to keep with its success story in delivering exquisite housing in serene environment, Afribank Estate Company Limited, has unveiled its latest offering, the Eldorado Villas in Magodo GRA in Lagos, during a ceremony last week.
The Managing Director, Engr Charles Njoku, during the “house cooling,” aimed at showcasing the professionalism and excellence engaged in producing the estate, said the track record of delivering sound and dependable housing in various parts of the country.
According to him, the company is coming from a rich heritage of performance even as it is adjudged one of the most professionally managed companies at a time. Said he, “Afribank Estate Company Limited, West African’s Best professionally managed real estate company of the year (2005), is a major player in the real estate subsector of the Nigerian economy. Incorporated in 1963, the company commenced operation under the name Afribank Estate Company Limited in June 1990 as a subsidiary of Afribank Nigeria Plc”.
The company, he said has a vision to meet the housing needs of a discerning market segment which places so much emphasis on quality. Eldorado villas he stressed is a firm signature of what the company represents in terms of quality.
Eldorado villas, Magodo is residential development of about 300sq metre built up floor area. It is a tastefully designed home that offers a great deal of luxury and is designed to provide absolute comfort. Eldorado comprise of 4 Nos. 5 bedroom detached houses with 2 maids rooms. Each room is en-suite, while each unit is designed to luxurious finishes with top quality materials and excellent work manship.
This “House cooling” event is so essential in order for us to unfold our plans regarding the Eldorado villas and others, to a select critical group of pressmen and principal stakeholders.
He noted that the vision of the company is to continue to alleviate the real estate burden of Nigerians by providing quality properties/ real estate services that are second to none in the country.
That vision he said, “Spurred us to bring to fruition so many projects, namely New Dawn Estate located at Magboro Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by Mountain of Fire and Miracles), Afribank Pearl Estate located at llupeju, Liberty Estate Ajah, Iriebe Garden City, a llz-home master planned residential community strategically located within Port Harcourt, Fair Trade Business Complex, an ultra modern shopping complex located between Kigoma and Harper crescent, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja among others,” he said.
Speaking further on the offering, the chairman of the company, Engr A.A. Oyekan, highlighted that Eldorado was not just another property on the Mainland, it is a huge brand, such a one that is going to be replicated in and outside of Lagos.
Specifically, he said “El’dorado in its true sense and meaning when you look at the features and facilities, there in namely:5 bedrooms Allien suite, 2 self- contained maid rooms, Jacuzzi and steam showers, top quality sanitary wares, cable TV, exotic landscaping, electric fence, standby sound proof generator, borehole and storage facilities ample parking space”.
He said the company has successful undergone a strategic re-engineering, and greatly re-invigorated with a new found spirit and positioning to deliver real estate products with high class and wonderful finesse.
Guest of honour at the event and Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr Dele Onabokun, while commending the efforts of the developer, promised that the state government would continue to make life meaningful for Lagosians by providing critical infrastructure which has been in short supply.
He also expressed commitment to partner with various stakeholders to ensure that development issues are adequately tackled.
“For us in Lagos State, our focus and objectives have been to make a model city with a high quality of life for the citizenry through adequate provision of shelter, which is a basic human need, and to provide good quality and affordable homes for the teaming population of Lagos State. It is our promise and we cannot deviate from that. And that is why we have shown our partnership and support for companies, by way of infrastructural development such as: access roads to the estates, electrification and other amenities to such locations now, but I assure you the government has it on its agenda”, he said.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.