General
FG Tasks ESVARBON on Effective, Affordable Housing Operations
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.’’
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.
Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The new chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has assumed office with a clear message to advance the country’s upstream oil and gas sector in line with the mandate of the commission as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
According to a statement signed by Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, the Head of Media & Strategic Communications at the upstream regulator, the NUPRC boss made this assertation during her first town hall meeting with management and staff on Tuesday December 23, 2025.
She further disclosed plans to make the commission a business enabler and re-ignite investments in the upstream sector.
Recall that President Tinubu nominated Mrs Eyesan to take over the NUPRC after the abrupt resignation of her predecessor, Mr Gbenga Komolafe as well as his counterpart in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed.
In her new capacity, Mrs Eyesan also set a firm production ambition of growing Nigeria’s output and increasing gas production.
“The goal is that we must enable the industry, we are regulators. We must enable the industry from our interactions with the stakeholders, from our interactions with everybody.
“My main objective is to ensure that we make a difference. I believe the NUPRC is at the Center of the industry,” she said.
The commission boss who has served for over three decades in the oil and gas sector, promised to entrench digitisation, transparency and efficiency in operations.
The NUPRC head said with the support of staff and management, the NUPRC will become the gold-standard regulator in Africa. She also promised capacity development, stronger technical depth and sustained engagement with stakeholders, unions and professional teams.
On leadership style, Mrs Eyesan promised an open-door policy and frequent staff engagement, while also soliciting for support and cooperation as the industry embarks on the next phase of transformation.
“If we work together we can unleash opportunities, I don’t see impediments only opportunities,” she added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance, peace, and unity, urging citizens of all faiths to reject violence and intolerance amid ongoing security challenges across the country.
In his 2025 Christmas goodwill message issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President emphasised that no Nigerian should suffer discrimination or violence because of their religious beliefs, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of worship and national cohesion.
“As your President, I remain committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect all people of different faiths from violence,” Mr Tinubu said, noting that all Nigerians have the constitutional right to live, worship, and pursue their aspirations in safety and dignity.
The President acknowledged growing concerns around religious intolerance and insecurity, revealing that he had engaged extensively throughout the year with leaders of Nigeria’s two major faiths.
In the last few months, the country faced a spate of attacks including kidnapping of school children and armed terror, involving the death of a high ranking army personnel.
He also said the government would continue to build on these engagements to strengthen collaboration with religious institutions, prevent conflict, and promote peaceful coexistence.
President Tinubu described Christmas as a period for reflection on the message of Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace, urging Nigerians to draw inspiration from values of love, compassion, and goodwill that cut across all major religions.
He commended Christians in Nigeria for their contributions to national development, particularly their role in caring for the vulnerable and promoting harmony within communities.
“The love for God and love for humanity is at the heart of all the great faiths. These shared values must continue to bind us together as one indivisible and resilient people,” he said.
Reiterating his administration’s stance on security, the President said the government’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s unity and stability has remained unwavering since he assumed office in 2023. He stressed that the state would not tolerate violence targeted at any group on the basis of ethnicity or belief.
President Tinubu also appealed to Nigerians travelling during the festive season to exercise patience and discipline on the roads, wishing them safe journeys and returns.
Expressing optimism about the country’s future, the President said that with faith in God and collective resolve, Nigeria would overcome its challenges and build a nation that future generations would be proud of.
He concluded by wishing Christians in Nigeria and around the world a Merry Christmas and Nigerians a happy New Year in advance.
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