Propertymart assures residents of Citiview Estate of continued provision of infrastructure

Leading real estate company, Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited, has reaffirmed its commitment to continued provision of quality infrastructure at its Citiview Estate, Arepo in Ogun State.

 

This assurance was given by the spokesperson of the firm, Barrister Taiwo Adedeji, at a meeting with some concerned residents of the estate at the firm’s corporate office in Magodo following the flooding witnessed in the estate as a result of the opening of the Oyan Dam in the wake of the recent heavy downpour in the country.

 

“We are right now addressing the natural challenge of flooding confronting partners who live in our Citiview Estate. For more than 8 years, the estate has never encountered flooding; save for a particular year when there was water seepage from the rear end of the estate. Prior to this season, residents of Citiview Estate had been insulated from severe flooding witnessed by other neighbouring estates and we are only impacted this year majorly because of the dredging activities around Ogun River which has affected the landscape and consequently the flow course of water. Initial parts of the estate which were not prone to flooding are now exposed by the dredging activities”, he said.

 

Adedeji also disclosed that a frontline construction giant, PW, was engaged to construct the road infrastructure leading into the estate as well as major areas within the estate, and that Propertymart has been overseeing its maintenance since the opening of the estate.

 

On the issue of title documents, Adedeji explained that majority of those who have paid up their requisite fees have been given their Deed of Assignment. According to him, “allocation of title documents does not start and end on our table; it is tied to the activities of the Government.  The larger percentage of the residents, especially those that have fully paid have their title documents while the rest are still under processing. But there are some who have not paid the necessary fees for the perfection of their title documents. These people also are currently yet to get their title documents.”

 

“The Land Use Act vests ownership of land in state governments and as a company, we won’t hold on to anybody’s title document especially if they have paid. We have engaged the relevant authorities to ensure that outstanding documents are released as soon as possible, but the larger percentage of those who have fully paid up have their title in their possession.”

 

Commenting on other concerns raised by the residents of the estate, Adedeji disclosed that they were being addressed in fulfilment of promises made to stakeholders by the company.

 

Adedeji further disclosed that the company has noted the increasing expansion of the Estate and is working hard to ensure that the facilities are commensurate.

 

He said: “The estate is an expanding project, some people moved in years ago, while others recently did. Some others are planning to move in soonest and we have not gone to sleep on some of the emerging issues. It is a habitable estate and as it develops, we will expand the infrastructure. Please be rest assured that the estate is not neglected and will never be neglected. It remains one of the most beautiful estates in the neighbourhood. We are taking full responsibility for its maintenance.”

 

A significant player in Nigeria’s real estate sector since its incorporation in 2008, Propertymart has delivered over 6,000 housing units and serviced plots to families and individuals in Lagos and Ogun states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Some of its key projects include Citiview Estate, Arepo; Mitchel Mews, Magodo; Edensville Estate, Simawa and Mitchville and Bel Terraces, Abuja.

NSCDC speaks on farmers-herdsmen clash in Abia

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abia State, on Wednesday, insisted that the state has recorded significant decline in the rate of farmers-herders clashes since the inauguration of the Agro-Rangers Unit of the command in September.

The State Commandant of the outfit, Mr Nnamdi Nwannukwu, said this while briefing newsmen in Umuahia on the achievements of the command since he assumed office in October last year, NAN reports.

Nwannukwu also said that the command had achieved a drastic reduction in bunkering, vandalism of petroleum pipelines, critical national assets and illegal dealings in petroleum products through the proactive and efficient performance of the Anti-Vandalism Unit.

He also expressed happiness that the Peace and Conflict Unit “has resolved a lot of cases that could have resulted in court cases or people taking the law into their hands.”

He further said that the Disaster Unit had been proactive in responding to disaster challenges, such as fire outbreaks, domestic and road accidents, among others.

The commandant also said that the Child Trafficking Unit had successfully curtailed the menace and domestic violence in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.

He further spoke on the manpower development initiative by the command, saying that at least 200 of its men had been trained on Basic Arms and Weapons Handling through “a historic home- grown approach and efficient collaboration with the Nigerian Army.”

Nwannukwu said that the command also engaged renowned training consultants to train its officers and men on fire prevention and control; disaster management; early signs and prevention as well as efficient and effective intelligence gathering and surveillance activities.

He also said that as part of the efforts to check the rampant cases of accidental discharge and killing of fellow officers and civilians, the command engaged training officers from the army, police and other sister security agencies to build more confidence in the corps operatives.

He said: “This positive collaboration with other sister-security agencies has helped in improving the performance index of our Intelligence and Investigations Department.

“Most of the intelligence and surveillance reports of our men have been used by sister security agencies to solve high profile cases of kidnapping and banditry, amongst other violent crimes.”

Nwannukwu said that his background as a lawyer helped the command to secure 19 convictions out of 24 prosecutions within the last one year.
He said that the remaining five were still pending in court.

He expressed joy that his efforts to revive the command’s Staff Cooperative Investment and Credit Society Limited, allegedly plagued by a litany of administrative, financial and other issues, were beginning to yield result.

He said that bold and commendable steps had been taken to recover contributors’ money, allegedly stashed away in private accounts, as well as recover and hand over to members, the plots of land paid for since 2013.

He said that efforts were also on to pay off the retirees and next-of-kins of deceased officers the money they contributed while in service.

Meanwhile, the command, which had operated in a rented apartment since its inception in 2004, has moved to its permanent site on Aba Road, upon the completion of ‘take off structures’, including a two-storey building and commandant’s office block.

Nwannukwu, who is the ninth state commandant, recalled the ugly experience the command faced operating in a rented apartment.

According to him, the situation exposed the command to security and administrative challenges, “especially in the areas of the command’s armoury and unconducive work environment.”

He said that his administration decided to explore all legitimate options available in the last one year to change the narrative by giving the permanent site the desired attention.

“To the glory of God, these efforts have resulted in the timely completion of a one-storey building at the site, which has accommodated many sensitive departments and units,” he said.

The commandant listed some of their challenges and appealed to stakeholders and government at all levels to assist the command with operational vehicles, modern security gadgets and construction of more office blocks to enhance their capacity to deliver on their mandate.

Chain Reactions Appoints Ex-Ogilvy and DDB Super Performer, Uche Ugorji As Vice President, Strategy and Business Development

Chain Reactions Nigeria Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading Public Relations and Integrated Communications Consulting firms and Nigerian affiliate to Edelman, the world’s largest Public Relations firm, has named Uche Ugorji as Vice President, Strategy and Business Development.
Managing Director and Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Nigeria, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, announced in a statement that Uche Ugorji’s appointment as Vice President, Strategy and Business Development was effective Friday 1, November 2019 as part of a holistic and aggressive business development drive the company is embarking upon.

According to Opayemi, “Uche Ugorji’s appointment is aimed at turbo-charging our bold client acquisition drive towards 2020 and beyond. He will effectively function as a Vice President and Chief Operating Officer with the mandate to give our 5-year business growth plan the leadership kick it requires. We see in Uche a man with incredible understanding of the art of selling, hence our decision to put him in charge of our growth train.”

The statement further disclosed that Ugorji’s choice was deliberate considering his robust cross-functional marketing communications background. “We have deliberately primed our business for the age of convergence and this is evident in the kind of work we do for clients and the kind of talents we retain to do them. We do not engage in run-off-the-mill PR works for our clients. We have fully embraced Edelman’s concept of Communications Marketing for our clients and so Uche is yet another bright example of the kind of talents we parade in Chain Reactions to deliver amazing results to our clients.”

In his reaction to the decision of the management of Chain Reactions to bring him on board, Uche Ugorji said, “I am super delighted at the opportunities ahead. I love the shared vision of Chain Reactions and the intentionality of its founder. It is bold and daring. I love the trajectory of the company, its international flavour in creed and in action. I love the company’s audacity to play big in not just Nigeria but in Africa. That is why I am in.”



Uche Ugorji has about 16 years of practical experience in the Marketing Communications industry within and outside the shores of Nigeria. He began his career in Public Relations with the then CMC Connect, now CMC Burson Cohn and Wolf before making a switch to core advertising as a strategic planner with Bluebird Communications. He later joined SO&U Saatchi & Saatchi where he was once described by one of the living legends of the industry, Udeme Ufot as “more than a Star but a genius!” upon his impressive performance on the Guinness account. This commendation came off the back of a character and dedication testimonial Uche had received from the Guinness Brand team in which he was described as a “rock” and a man who could deliver against incredibly impossible timelines”. The Guinness Marketing Manager at the time had cause to describe Uche as a man who exudes “nothing else but a can-do attitude even at the craziest deadlines” within the Guinness brand team.

Uche displayed similar impressive performance at Etuodi Communications and DDB Lagos respectively before joining Ogilvy as Business Director and Agency Council Lead for West Africa Region where he had oversight for all Ogilvy Integrated Marketing Communications interest accounts.

Chain Reactions Nigeria’s current clientele include Facebook, 9mobile, HP, Motorola Solutions, Dubai Tourism, First Bank, Lagos State Governor’s Office, The Jack Ma Foundation, Propertymart amongst others.

Prison is the safest place for Nnamdi Kanu in Nigeria — Judge

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has said that the prison is the safest place in the country for the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

She stated this on Thursday in reaction to the request by Kanu’s counsel that the IPOB leader is ready to face trial if his safety would be guaranteed by the court

Ejiofor told the court that the application to restore the Kanu’s bail so that he could face his trial was filed on April 1.

“We have an application for bail filed on April 1, 2019, the application was served on the prosecution and it is ripe for hearing. “We urge the court to restore his bail on the ground that the court will guarantee his safety when he comes back to the country to continue his trial,” he said.

On his part, counsel to the Federal Government, Labaran Shuaibu, who told the court that he was just seeing the process, opposed to the application. Shuaibu urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable them filed the necessary processes.

 Delivering the ruling, Justice Nyako, who adjourned the matter till Jan. 16, said the only way he could guarantee Kanu’s safety was to keep him in the prison. She said even judges are no longer safe in the country. “Even judges are being abducted in the country. So prison is the only safest place for him,” she said.

Boko Haram: Nigerian Army goes spiritual in war against violent extremism in Yobe

The Nigerian Army today held a religious enlightenment seminar aimed at countering violent extremism in Yobe State, the Northeast and Nigeria in general.

Themed ‘Countering Insurgency and Violent Extremism in Nigeria Through Authentic Religious Enlightenment “, the event brought together religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, security operatives and political office holders among others from within and outside the state under one roof to present authentic narratives countering the extremists’ ideology.

Director of Islamic Affairs of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Shehu Garba Mustapha said the religious enlightenment seminar cannot but come at a better time than now and cannot be farfetched from the fact that insurgency and violent extremism is one of the greatest hurdles to peace and progress in any society.

“In continuation with the noble effort of countering the wrong religious ideologies, this religious seminar is aimed at producing appropriate narratives to defeat the wrong ideologies used by leaders of the terrorists and vocational insurgents groups to recruit and indoctrinate their follower from the larger society.

” it is also a fallout of the initial programme on counter-narrative last year which generate enthusiasm from the clerics and leaders of thought in Maiduguri. But due to the fact that the insurgency by Boko Haram is ideological in nature”, Mustapha said.

The Director noted that the seminar will avail both Islamic and Christians clerics the opportunity to identify religious ethos that British brings all faiths together towards achieving harmonious and peaceful coexistence as a catalyst for achieving national cohesion and developmental goals.

Governor Mai Mala Buni, represented by the Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Baba Malam Wali said violent extremism is propagated incapable and misinformed individuals who have limited knowledge of true teachings of Islam and indeed teachings of Christianity.

“In keeping with this, the State Government is resolutely committed to continuing de-radicalization programme which has since been embarked upon by the state Ministry of Religious Affairs”, he stated.

The governor hoped that the participants will take home all the lessons learnt and propagate them among their followers towards achieving the desired objectives.

Religious scholars such as the Chief Imam of Yobe Central Mosque, Ustaz Hudu Mohammed, Reverend Emmanuel Morris Dafi and Sheikh Ibrahim Damaturu who spoke at the seminar unanimously agreed that, there is no alternative to peace and that violent extremism can be fought through the true tenets of Islam and Christianity.

They also called on members of the public to join hands with security forces in defeating Boko Haram insurgents ideologically, while also advising for the training of religious scholars on how best to counter and change the wrong narratives of the insurgents.

Movie Industry: Media guru, Otunba Femi Davies, Makes A Comeback

The media personality and publisher of MetroNewsNg, Otunba Femi Davies, is set to make a come back to the movie industry.

The well known Lagos based journalist has spent well over 25years transversing Lagos Television/Radio Lagos, OGTV, Magnet Media, Oricom Advertising, Today’s Choice Magazine, Hearts Magazine, Ace Weekly, Global Excellence and City People magazine, before serving under the government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel in Ogun State as a Media Consultant to the governor and Director of Organization for Peoples Party Of Nigeria (PPN) before returning to his first love, journalism to berth Ultimate Magazine and later MetroNewsNg a digital news portal.

According to the Ogun State born music/movie and events, promoter, his return to the movie industry is borne out of the realization that the industry is more sanitised now with the advent of social media tools and increment in avenues to recoup money invested in the industry. He opined that income from investments was hitherto limited to whatever the marketer was willing to pay coupled with pirates who were milking the industry dry.



With the advent of social media, producers can exhibit movies at various cinema halls spread across the country, organise professional premieres, enter into contracts with digital platforms, broadcast platforms and the likes to also make income. He also raised the fact that the standard of productions including use of state of the arts equipment is so encouraging now that good and quality standard is now the measurement and expectation across the industry unlike what obtained in the past.

To this end, he is set to produce movies which will hit the market from the end of the year and the first quarter of 2020.

Asked if he is quitting journalism for movie making, the very jovial and mentor to many journalists said, “As a graduate of Mass Communication, I’m rather going back to a part of what I studied, which is the use of mass media to communicate to a large audience with the intent to cause positive changes. With the movies,I seek to entertain, educate, re-orientate, and influence positive attitudes by positively projecting our culture and values. In one word, I will seek to tell our stories our own way not the way foreigners want us to see ourselves”.

Otunba Femi Davies in the past was the brain behind notable Yoruba movies like “Owo Ale”, Ago Meje -7 ‘O Clock’, “Temi Ni Nkem”, “Pink Ladies”, “Alabarin”, “Mase Magbe” “2010 Odun Ayo Mi” shot in Suncity, South Africa amongst other movies.

He has managed top rated acts like Sir Shina Peters, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma and promoted K1 D Ultimate, Adewale Ayuba, Wale Thompson, Dele Taiwo, Lanre Teriba, Musiliu Haruna Ishola, Q.Dot, Small Doctor, Remedies and a long list of others.

He will be hitting location for movie productions in the month of November, which is coincidentally is birth month.

Reps ask Buhari to stop Operation Positive Identification

The House of Representatives has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the planned operation positive identification.

The House, therefore, resolved to mandate the Committee on Army to interface with the Army Chief to develop a people-friendly strategy to combat crimes.

The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu.

Moving the motion, Elumelu described the proposal as “infringement on the rights of Nigerians.”

He said further that it will be “an indirect state of emergency if allowed to take place,” adding that the “Plan contravenes sections Section 217 sub 2(c,d).”

The sections read, “The Federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of –

“(b) maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea, or air;

“(c) suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly; and

“(d) performance such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.”

Also supporting the motion, the Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, said the proposal is not within the mandate of the army.

“It is not part of their mandate, we have the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and we have the security apparatus, unfortunately, we have been under siege by Boko Haram.

“They are simply belabouring themselves with jobs that do not concern them. What defect is it supposed to cure? We have to interrogate this through the committee on Army.”

The Motion was unanimously adopted when put to vote by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.