Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Anambra State government, Friday, warned Estate developers and Valuers against erecting buildings on over 65% of any landed property they wish to develop in the State.
The state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Paulinus Onyeka, gave the warning at Awka, during the 2022 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) seminar, award and inauguration of the executive, organised by the Anambra State chapter of Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.
Onyeka who was represented at the event by Eugene Onyenwe, described that as part of a policy introduced by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to cushion the effect of climate change, flooding and erosion challenges.
“The Commissioner for Housing said I should inform you about the policy of the State government which is that developers should not build on over 65% of any land they are developing. You should leave the remaining percent for plants, oxygen and others to thrive. Anambra has no enough land.
“Over one thousand active erosion sites have taken over our land. We have to conserve. You should also endeavour to use catchment pits to collate running water from your buildings and channel them appropriately to prevent flooding. This is what you should advice your clients to do. For us to control erosion, you should control the flooding,” he stated.
In an open address, the National President, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, ESV Johnbull Amayaevbo, represented by the 2nd National Vice President, Mallam Bature Ali Muhammad, commended the State for the event, noting that it would increase the awareness as well as help members to become better professionals.
On his part, Professor Michael Eze, who was Chairman of the occasion, concurred that the profession has important roles to play in building liveable cities, and enjoined members to shun unprofessionalism, unethical practices and utilise the training to improve.
In a keynote address, Dr Celestine Ugonabo of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, urged estate surveyors and valuers to banish what he called “thought of trade secret and feel free to share their experiences in practice to engender standardisation and growth of this aspect of their practices.”
A lead paper presenter, Professor Ifeanyi Emoh, who addressed ‘property management methods: the pros and cons,’ identified disadvantages of house management as neglect of maintenance by property owners, who according to him could be more interested in maximising profits, minimising costs, and recruitment of unqualified staff.
“Outsourcing should be the in-thing if many of our consultancy firms and practitioners must thrive. The potential benefits of outsourcing real estate management functions at the property level are access to specialised competence and technology, with the potential to increase income (rents) and decrease costs,” he noted.
Earlier, the State Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, ESV Chris Okagbue, while explaining the theme for the seminar, which was Property Management Methods: The Pros and Cons, hinted that the event attended by over 300 members from across the country, enriched their knowledge with modern technologies and core practices.
Meanwhile, four professionals who presented papers at the occasion were ESV Felicia Chukwuemeka, whose paper was Ethical Conducts of an Estate Surveyor and Valuer in Property Management; and ESV Ikechukwu Nwachukwu, that spoke on ‘The Nigerian Legal System and Property Management by Professionals.’
Others were ESV Amaechi Ajogwu whose paper centered on ‘The Condition of Properties before and after tenancy for proper management by Professionals; and ESV Ifeanyichukwu Nwafor whose work discussed the Prospects of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Property Management in Nigeria.
High points of the training were certificate presentations to participants, awards presentations to some distinguished professionals and citizens, and inauguration of the new State Executives of the association.
