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Experts Advocate Green Building for Sustainable Financing

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Green Building for Sustainable Financing

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Stakeholders in the building and construction sectors have been urged to adopt green building practices as a means to secure sustainable financing for large-scale projects.

This appeal was made at the 2024 Ecobank Design and Build Expo themed Building Nigeria Together held from November 27 to December 1, 2024, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos.

The event featured around 60 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and innovations in architecture, construction, building materials, household appliances, engineering, and interior design.

Green building or sustainable building refers to the design and construction of structures that prioritize environmentally responsible and resource-efficient processes throughout their lifecycle—spanning planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.

The chief executive of Chapel Hill Denham, Mr Bolaji Balogun, emphasized the importance of sustainable practices during his presentation on Sustainable Financing.

He highlighted that projects with an environmentally-friendly focus are more likely to attract lower-cost capital both locally and internationally, pointing out that multinational companies are increasingly seeking buildings with EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification.

“The world is shifting towards green buildings. These buildings attract cheaper capital, both domestically and abroad. Large organizations now prefer EDGE-certified buildings, which offer environmental features like low carbon footprints, energy efficiency, and reduced operating and maintenance costs,” he stated.

Mr Balogun also mentioned other sources of sustainable financing, such as Sukuk, blue financing, and gender financing. He encouraged organizations to explore capital and bond markets to secure funding.

The Senior Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Mr Godwin Tapela, spoke about the EDGE certification system, which was developed by the IFC to minimize the environmental impact of the building sector, particularly in emerging markets.

He emphasized the corporation’s ongoing efforts to promote awareness of the importance of eco-friendly, sustainable buildings.

Mr Tapela also reaffirmed that the IFC remains committed to providing sustainable financing solutions, especially for developers of green buildings and affordable housing.

A highlight of the expo was a visit from former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who toured the various pavilions, which displayed cutting-edge trends, innovations, and sustainable practices, praising the exhibitors for the high quality of their work.

Prominent global brands participating in the expo included SABA Steel, Nigeria’s largest steel manufacturer; Coleman Wire & Cables, the leading cable producer in West Africa; Donna Spectre, a major player in indigenous oil and gas logistics; Dulux Paints, a top paint brand in Nigeria; HTL Africa, an innovative architectural firm; ITB Nigeria Limited, a major construction company in Nigeria and West Africa; and Mota Engil Nigeria, a leading civil construction company.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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CNPP Begs Wike for Certificates of Occupancy Payment Deadline Extension

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FCT Minister Wike

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has been urged to extend the deadline for the payment of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) by property owners in Abuja.

This plea for an extension was asked by the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) through a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr James Ezema.

The group said the initial two-week grace period given to the affected allottees, which expired on Friday, January 3, 2025, was insufficient, considering the current economic challenges facing the country.

Recall that after public outcries, Mr Wike, who is the immediate past governor of Rivers State, granted an extension to the owners of the 762 revoked plots of land in Maitama, Abuja.

“We are appealing to the Minister and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to tamper justice with mercy and issue an extension in the spirit of the yuletide and in view of the economic challenges in the country,” the association stated.

It stressed that the extension would give the affected individuals and groups ample time to comply with the directive, thereby avoiding any undue hardship or loss.

“We pray that the Minister and the FCTA will grant the allottees an extension to comply with the directive, giving all the affected individuals and groups enough time to have themselves to blame at the end of the final extension,” the statement added.

The CNPP’s appeal comes on the heels of its recent expression of concern over the escalating hunger and suffering faced by millions of Nigerians due to the economic realities in the country.

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All Farmers Association of Nigeria Dissociates Self From Ado Kano

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North-East Farmers

By Adedapo Adesanya

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has dissociated itself from an unofficial viral statement by one of it members, regarding posters indicating activities of the organisation.

The group dissociated itself from the member in a statement signed by its National President and the National Secretary, Mr Kabiru Ibrahim, and Mr Yunusa Halidu, respectively.

“This post is made by an authorized member, Ado A Ado Kano.

“The opinions and views expressed here are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the group, its administrators, or other members.

“For official statements, please refer to AFAN official contact or platform,” parts of the statement made available to Business Post stated.

According to AFAN, the unofficial posters flying around doesn’t represent the association, noting that Mr Kano is not authorized by AFAN or its officials but those of the author.

AFAN is the umbrella organisation for all farmers’ commodity associations in Nigeria.

Its vision and mission are to assemble all Nigerian producers into one organization, providing a single interlocutor for the government to address agricultural issues with the farming community.

AFAN was formed by the merger of the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (ALFA) and the National Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (NAFAN).  The merger was recommended by former Nigerian president, Mr Olusegun Obasanjo.

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BUA Debunks Claims of 90% Completion of Refinery in Akwa Ibom

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BUA Pasta Processing Plant

By Adedapo Adesanya

BUA Group has denied widespread reports that its ongoing construction of a 200,000 barrels per day capacity refinery located in Akwa Ibom State is 90 per cent completed.

In a statement signed on Sunday, the group with subsidiaries in food, cement, and energy sectors said that the claims that the structure was at end stage did not come from it.

“Contrary to a misleading report stating that our 200,000 barrels/day refinery is at 90% completion, BUA wishes to advise the public to disregard such misleading reports that did not emanate from us,” a part of the statement read.

It clarified that the project was progressing well and added that it was going to meet the project timeline of 2025.

“As we make remarkable strides on our Akwa Ibom refinery project, we are proud to share that construction is progressing steadily.

“Whilst the refinery is not at 90% completion, we are however on track to meet our delivery timelines in collaboration with our partners.

“This BUA Refinery & Petrochemicals project represents a major milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s refining capacity and energy security,” the group said.

BUA is also carrying out other energy projects, including the construction of a mini-LNG plant and several new hybrid power plants across the country, which it said are also progressing rapidly.

The group says this will add additional capacity to our over 1,000MW installed captive power generation capacity.

“The public is advised to verify any news through our official channels and platforms so as not to be misled by mischievous persons,” the statement said.

“At BUA, we remain committed to transparency and excellence. As we have consistently done with over 12 of our completed mega industrial projects worth over $ 3.5 billion in the past 10 years, we will continue to keep you updated with verifiable and accurate information only where necessary, and as milestones are achieved.

“We appreciate the public’s interest and enthusiasm for this transformative project as we work together in building a stronger industrial and manufacturing base for a self-reliant Nigeria,” it added.

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