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FG Tasks ESVARBON on Effective, Affordable Housing Operations

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ESVARBON

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has tasked the newly inaugurated Estate Surveyors and Valuers’ Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) to carry out effective and affordable housing operations that help alleviate the issue in the country.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, disclosed this on Tuesday while inaugurating the 22-member professional body in Abuja.

He said that it was necessary due to the expiration of terms of several of the board members, which has led to a shortage of active members.

He said that the board had been unable to meet the quorum of 11 members required by the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Act.

According to him, although a new chairman was appointed after the former chairman’s term ended on March 17, the terms of 15 other members have also expired, further contributing to its to function effectively.

“There are five appointees from five states, four from four institutions, three on the minister’s representation, and two from the Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, while the nomination from Oyo State is being awaited.

“It is important to note that the board is an essential organ charged with the duty of overseeing the profession of estate surveying and valuation in Nigeria.

“President Bola Tinubu has mandated the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to transform the housing sector for the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Therefore, all agencies, institutions, and parastatals under the ministry must be alive to their responsibilities and work hard towards achieving the objectives for which they were set up,’’ he said.

Mr Dangiwa also said that estate surveyors and valuers played an important role in the successful delivery of affordable housing across Nigeria.

He noted that their professional expertise ensured that land and property valuations were accurate and reflected fair market values crucial for facilitating cost-effective housing solutions.

“Furthermore, estate surveyors contribute significantly to urban planning and development.

“They help to ensure that housing projects are well-structured, financially viable, and sustainable. By working closely with developers, they help to optimise resources, making housing more affordable for Nigerians.

“In addition to their role in housing delivery, estate surveyors are critical in preventing building collapses, which this ministry aims to address.

“They do that by ensuring that property inspections and assessments are thorough and in accordance with professional standards,’’ he said.

The minister urged the ESVARBON board to focus on its mandates which include determining who qualifies as estate surveyors and valuers.

He said that the mandate also included establishing the required standards of knowledge and skill for those seeking registration, and maintaining a register of qualified persons and publishing the list periodically.

He added that ESVARBON was tasked with regulating and controlling the practice of estate surveying and valuation, and performing other functions as conferred by the Act.

He, therefore, charged the board to promote excellence in estate surveying and valuation, uphold the integrity of the profession, foster collaboration and knowledge sharing and advance the interests of members and the public.

On his part, the chairman of the board, Mr Dosu Fatokun, said that with its reconstitution, ESVARBON would continue its vital role of regulating and controlling the practice of the profession to ensure integrity, professionalism and transparency.

“I assure the minister that under my watch, ESVARBON will live up to the expectation of the Federal Government and the public in general,’’ he said.

He said the board would strengthen its regulatory framework, promote innovation, technology and professionalism, folster collaboration, and contribute to the renewed hope housing agenda.

He requested that members of the board should be appointed as facility managers to professionally handle the post-development issues relating to housing estates and cities.

“These include disposal by sale, lease or balloting as well as establishing a facility management model for the new stock of infrastructure.

“A usual derogatory refrain is that Nigeria lacks maintenance culture. The nation’s sizeable public infrastructure is under the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

“The board offers to partner with the ministry and other built environment professionals to fashion out appropriate maintenance model to improve our infrastructure repairs and upkeep culture in the country.’’

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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FG Moves to Fast-Track Household Cash Transfer Scheme

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cash transfer programme

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government is fast-tracking the implementation phase of its economic and financial inclusion strategy aimed at improving access to economic opportunities for Nigerians.

This was disclosed by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Ibrahim Hadejia, at the inaugural meeting of the Technical Committee of the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI).

He said that “Financial inclusion is not just about having a bank account—it means access to quality services, credit, and the visibility that digital platforms offer.”

The meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The federal government established an inter-agency task force to address challenges delaying President Bola Tinubu’s approved conditional cash transfers to 15 million vulnerable households.

The task force includes the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office, National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

The mandate of the taskforce goal is to unlock bottlenecks and fast-track the distribution of critical financial support to Nigeria’s most vulnerable.

The meeting also endorsed steps to work with state governments in localising data from the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access in Nigeria (EFInA) Access to Financial Services survey – a biennial study conducted by the EFInA.

Mr Hadejia explained that the meeting brought together high-level stakeholders from government agencies, financial institutions, and academia to align on the President’s vision and execution roadmap.

“We are off to a very good start. What has led to the success of what we’ve done so far is alignment and inclusive stakeholder engagement,” he said.

On hsi part, the committee’s Secretary, Mr Nurudeen Zauro, said the meeting also approved PreCEFI’s strategic roadmap and governance structure.

Mr Zauro, who is also the Technical Advisor to the President on Financial Inclusion, said ” an inter-agency committee has been established to address delays in the disbursement of conditional cash transfers to 15 million households as mandated by President Tinubu.

“We will be presenting the report to the National Economic Council and the Nigerian Governors Forum to ensure data is domesticated and acted upon at the subnational level.”

Also, Director-General of NIMC, Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote, explained that digital identity plays a foundational role in achieving inclusion goals.

“The beauty of the NIN is that it bridges the financial divide. It provides access to health, education, and agricultural services and strengthens national data infrastructure,” she said.

The Director of Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion at the CBN, Mrs Aisha Isa-Olatinwo, urged the committee to focus on implementable outcomes that serve those at the base of the pyramid.

According to her, financial inclusion is one of the eight reform pillars of the President’s agenda.

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Senate to Finalise Passage of Tax Reform Bills Today

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Senate confirms Umar Yahaya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Senate has passed two out of four major tax reform bills, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing overhaul of the nation’s tax administration framework.

The two bills, one seeking to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and another to establish the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill 2025 along with the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill 2025, were passed following a clause-by-clause consideration during the Committee of the Whole and their subsequent third reading on the Senate floor.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in October 2024 transmitted the four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.

However, the bills were met with opposition from many quarters, particularly from Northerners, who lamented that the bills put their interests at stake.

During deliberations, the upper chamber went through the clause-by-clause consideration of the four key tax reform bills submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Mr Sani Musa.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended the progress, expressing optimism that the reform bills would not only enhance governance but also revolutionise tax collection and distribution across the country.

“These bills will add immense value to governance and transform how taxes are collected and shared in Nigeria,” he said.

He further assured that the remaining two bills would be finalised today (Thursday), even if it required extended sitting hours.

“We are committed to concluding the outstanding bills tomorrow, even if we have to stay here until 10 p.m.,” Mr Akpabio said.

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FG Reiterates Actualisation of $3bn Agge Seaport 

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Agge Seaport

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has pledged its commitment towards the actualisation of the $3 billion Agge Deep Seaport project to promote job creation, economic development and attract local and foreign investments to the Niger Delta region.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, stated this at the weekend during the flag-off of the marine safety sensitisation and distribution of life jackets to waterways users in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The minister said the realisation of the Agge Sea Port Project in Bayelsa State was part of President Bola Tinubu administration’s alignment with the broader marine and blue economy vision which is part of its transformative agenda to revive the economy.

Mr Oyetola disclosed that the ministry was working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Agge Deep Seaport becomes a reality in record time.

He said the port will serve as a major maritime gateway in the South-south, facilitating international trade, reducing congestion at existing ports, creating jobs, boosting local and foreign investment, and accelerating economic development in the Niger Delta and beyond.

On his part, the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Douye Diri for his initiatives and his administration’s alignment with the broader Marine and Blue Economy vision of the federal government, he added that the port will also open up new frontiers in logistics, fisheries, ship-building, and tourism.

Speaking on the distribution of life jackets to waterways users, the minister said the initiative was in continuation of the implementation of the federal government’s national safety initiative that speaks directly to the value the administration placed on human lives.

“Today, we are here in Bayelsa State to fulfill that same promise, distributing 3,500 life jackets to users of inland waterways in this great state.

“This landmark initiative, launched under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, is not just symbolic; it is strategic, proactive, and long overdue. It is our direct response to the alarming rate of boat mishaps and the heartbreaking fatalities that have plagued our waterways for far too long.

“As we all know, water transportation remains the most viable means of connectivity for many of our rural and riverine communities, yet it is also one of the riskiest when safety protocols are ignored or unavailable.

“What we are doing here today is saving lives. It is that simple. With these life jackets, we are empowering our waterways users, fishermen, traders, students, and transport operators with the basic tools to survive and be safe.

“It is our firm belief that no one should lose their life simply because they had to cross a river or travel by boat. The distribution of life jackets to the 12 selected states in this first phase represents one of the most comprehensive federal responses in recent times to the persistent safety challenges on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

He appealed to the national government to make good its promise of supporting the state in developing the Agge Deep Seaport.

Represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor described the Agge Seaport project as a gateway to regional and international trade that would be of immense benefit to the state and the country at large.

Mr Diri assured the federal government of his administration’s commitment to actualising the project, and called for effective collaboration from all critical stakeholders including development partners.

“We are happy that you have spoken profusely about the Agge Deep Seaport. But we will be happier if all of us work together in pursuing this endeavour to its completion and use.

“The Agge Deep Seaport is not only important to Bayelsa. It will not only open the gateway to Bayelsa, but also open the gateway to the Nigerian economy in several ways,” he said.

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