General
Alpha Mead Chief Sees Real Estate Driving Nigeria’s $1trn Economy Ambition
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Group Managing Director of Alpha Mead, Mr Femi Akintunde, has said the real estate sector, if well harnessed, could drive the $1 trillion economy ambition of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the sector witnessed a 46.52 per cent expansion, 16.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth rate, and 5.43 per cent contribution to real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2024.
He submitted that the real estate industry could create several jobs and help with urban and rural landscape renewal, as well as robust tax and fee contributions.
He tasked the government to pay special attention to the sector, noting that his company is making concerted efforts towards improving the performance of the real estate industry.
Mr Akintunde said the company aims to help both the government and private investors scale returns, even as users scale experience; noting that the role of facility management in boosting growth in the sector and the Nigerian economy cannot be over-emphasized.
“The sector leaped above oil and gas, telecommunications and agriculture which were traditional leading contributors to the economy, and facility management also played a part in this development.
“Trends in sustainability, cybersecurity, automation, workplace and home well-being, smart building and Artificial intelligence have expanded the operations of facility management consultants beyond the usual traditional roles, making engaging their services a necessity if the growth trajectory of the real estate sector will be maintained,” he posited.
He, therefore, cautioned developers, stakeholders, and other professionals in the real estate industry to maximise the roles of facility managers to hasten growth in the Nigerian economy.
The Alpha Mead MD also stressed that developers and owners should engage the services of a facility management firm or consultant in keeping tab with the growth trajectory of the real estate sector.
“It is most likely that it will be overwhelming to keep up with the growth trajectory of the real estate sector and cope with trends in facility management.
“An attempt to self-play both roles will yield poor facility management which snowballs into an unsatisfactory tenant experience, complaints, court cases, unrealised utility projection, threat to human health and safety, structure deterioration, expensive repairs, facility failure, abandonment, and low investment yield,” Mr Akintunde said.
Currently, Alpha Mead Group is one of Africa’s leading facilities management companies. It is certified to ISO 9001:2015 international standards by United Kingdom Accreditation Services, UKAS, providing Integrated Facilities Management operations and Consultancy services to large-scope, complex, and multi-serviced facilities across Africa.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr Tony Elumelu, expressed his displeasure over the way he was addressed by one of the company’s graduate trainees at an interactive session in a viral video.
The financial institution organised a Graduate Management Accelerated Programme graduation ceremony on Thursday, and the former banker was in attendance.
During a question-and-answer session, one of the graduating trainees stood and called Mr Elumelu by his first name, Tony.
“Good morning, Tony,” she said.
Mr Elumelu initially thought the lady meant to say Toyin, but she repeated “Good morning, Tony,” a development the UBA chairman was not happy about.
He quickly responded by saying, “No, you won’t call me Tony. You’ll call me Mr Elumelu or TOE. You won’t call me Tony, or Chairman. I don’t subscribe to that kind of… Oyinbo life, okay?”
Though without offering any apology for the error, the female graduate trainee subsequently corrected herself, saying, “Good morning, Mr Elumelu,” before proceeding with her question.
The video clip from the event has already generated mixed reactions, with many happy that the business mogul quickly rebuffed the lady.
They described her as rude, fearing she could lose her job for being disrespectful to the chairman of the organisation.
However, some others said calling colleagues by their first names in a corporate ecosystem is not new, as such happens in the banking sector.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has promised to return the payment of subsidies for premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, if he is elected President in 2027.
Mr Atiku is seeking to become Nigeria’s President next year. He is contesting for the position under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The presidential election is slated for January 16, 2027.
Answering questions in a trending interview on social media, the former second citizen of the country said the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 has not done Nigerians any good.
According to him, the economy has been in shambles, noting that the subsidy removal is responsible for high living costs in Nigeria.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed that the nation saved about N15.8 trillion between June 2023 and December 2025 from the policy, noting that over N10 trillion was made available to the 36 state governments and the 774 local government areas from the savings.
But the ADC presidential candidate was not impressed with this explanation, stressing that there is nothing to show for the purported gains of the policy.
“I initially did not oppose the removal of the fuel subsidy. But now that it has been removed, where is the money? Where has the subsidy money gone? Has it been used to improve healthcare, education or security?” he queried.
“If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money,” he declared.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Army has arrested 18 suspected illegal miners at a mining site in Izom, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, recovering equipment and N2.47 million in cash from the operation.
The suspects were arrested by troops of the 102 Guard Battalion during a routine operation in the area, where the soldiers reportedly discovered unauthorised mining activities.
Following the arrests, the army handed over the suspects and recovered items to the headquarters of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals in Sauka, Abuja, in line with established inter-agency procedures.
The operation is part of intensified efforts by security and regulatory agencies to curb illegal mining, which has been linked to revenue losses, environmental degradation and the unlawful exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
Reacting to the development, the Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, commended the Nigerian Army for what he described as a strong demonstration of professionalism and commitment to protecting the country’s mineral wealth.
“The Nigerian Army has once again distinguished itself through professionalism, discipline and patriotism. The swift arrest of the suspects and their prompt handover to the Mining Marshals reflect a commendable commitment to the rule of law and the protection of Nigeria’s solid mineral resources,” he said.
Preliminary investigations by the Mining Marshals indicated that the suspects allegedly operated without licences, permits or any affiliation with a registered mining company. Investigators also said they could not produce evidence of valid mineral titles or authorisation from the relevant regulatory authorities.
Items recovered from the mining site included motorcycles, pumping machines, crusher engines, communication devices and cash totalling N2,468,750.
Mr Attah said the Mining Marshals would continue to pursue individuals involved in illegal mining and strengthen intelligence-led operations against activities that undermine the formal mining industry and deprive government of legitimate revenue.
He added that the Corps, under its Commandant-General, Mr Ahmed Audi, remained committed to enforcing the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act and protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources from unlawful exploitation.
The Mining Marshals said the investigation had been concluded and that the 18 suspects were being processed for prosecution under the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
