General
Property Owners in Oyo Get 60-day Building Permit Amnesty
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Property owners and developers in Oyo State without building permits have been given a 60-day grace period to get approval for their properties.
This amnesty by the state government is part of its efforts to regularise buildings that were constructed without the necessary approvals.
A statement from the government disclosed that this initiative is under its Online Building Permit Amnesty (OYBPA) programme, which commenced on Monday, August 26, 2024, and will end on Sunday, October 27, 2024.
It was further stated that the scheme would also regularise those in violation of building regulations in the state and process new approvals within this 60-day window.
According to the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, the programme aligns with Governor Seyi Makinde’s transformation and sustainable development agenda designed to enable the government to improve urban planning and enhance the security and safety of lives and properties within our dear state.
He added that the government has also approved that property owners can now get or regularise their building permits within the period at a 20 per cent discounted rate.
“This is to allow the good people of Oyo State to get their building permits faster, easier, and cheaper as the government will embark on massive enforcement of building permits after the amnesty period,” the Commissioner said.
“This amnesty period lasts 60 days, and it is advised that all property owners (residential, commercial, industrial, educational, health facilities, etc.) within the state who have no building permit and have engaged in unauthorized development or are currently planning to commence development should harness this opportunity,” he added.
The OYBPA, which is majorly an online process, will enable property owners to process their permits without falling victim to touts and middlemen.
He gave the guarantee that property owners would get an authentic permit which would prevent any further interference by the authority as regards their development as long as they adhere to the provisions of the approval.
“At the end of this exercise, an amnesty certificate will be issued to all who took advantage of this opportunity,” he affirmed.
“In the same vein, we, therefore, plead with members of the public and our directors of zonal planning authorities to strictly adhere to the principle of granting building permits in the state,” Mr Akin-Funmilayo noted.
However, he said properties illegally occupying the state government acquisition zone, properties within the circular road or circular road set back, properties directly under the power line zone, properties within the disallowable proximity to the dam, and the stream would not be granted amnesty.
In addition, he emphasised that properties built on the road, within pipeline setbacks, and under court or financial crimes matters would not be granted amnesty, assuring that the initiative, like every other, would be seamless.
On her part, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi, said the scheme would regularise the database of properties in the state and ensure more security across all local governments in the state, urging owners of structures constructed without building plans to key into the initiative.
Business Post reports that this development is coming barely a month after the Lagos State government ended its 90-day grace period for property owners in the state.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Three African subsidiaries of global advisory firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), have been debarred by the World Bank Group for 21 months after being found guilty of manipulating procurement processes for a major cross-border electricity project.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Washington-based multilateral lender said PricewaterhouseCoopers Associates Africa Ltd, based in Mauritius, along with its Kenyan and Rwandan affiliates, engaged in “collusive and fraudulent practices” linked to the Eastern Electricity Highway Project, a flagship initiative to transmit hydropower from Ethiopia to Kenya.
The decision sidelines PwC from lucrative World Bank-funded projects on the continent, dealing a blow to one of the region’s most influential audit and advisory firms.
This development could reshape competition for high-value consulting work across emerging markets, potentially disrupting startups and tech firms reliant on World Bank funding, as scrutiny over governance and compliance tightens.
The World Bank, through its private sector arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC), offers grants and low-interest loans to startups across emerging markets.
Earlier this week, the IFC committed $20 million to invest in high-growth startups in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
“The debarment makes PwC Associates, PwC Kenya, PwC Rwanda, and any affiliates they control ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed projects and operations,” the World Bank said. “It is part of a settlement agreement under which the three companies admit culpability for sanctionable practices.”
The determination was based on the company’s conduct between 2019 and the award of contracts for consultancy services and asset valuation work for the Ethiopian state power utilities.
According to the World Bank statement, the firm obtained confidential procurement documents to improperly influence the award of a contract for the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards at the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation.
They also attempted to steer a separate contract for a fixed asset inventory and revaluation for the power utility towards PwC Associates. During the bidding and execution of that contract, the bank found that the company misrepresented the availability and qualifications of key experts and failed to disclose the full list of subconsultants involved.
According to the World Bank, the debarment is shorter than would otherwise apply because PwC admitted misconduct. The advisory firm also agreed to a series of remedial measures, including internal investigations, disciplinary action against responsible staff, terminating relationships with all subconsultants involved, and additional staff training.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has affirmed the right of Nigerians to film personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on duty.
The judgment was given by Justice H. A. Nganjiwa on Tuesday in a case filed by Mr Maxwell Uwaifo in suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025.
The court held that Nigerians have the constitutional right to use any device to record police officers executing their official duties in public.
It was ruled that police officers must wear visible name tags, display their force numbers, and must not harass, intimidate, arrest, or seize devices from citizens documenting their activities.
The court awarded the applicant N5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights and N2 million for the cost of litigation.
Business Post reports that the respondents in the case were the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the NPF, the Police Service Commission (PSC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The lawyer filed the case in accordance with Sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41 of the Constitution of Nigeria and others.
“This judgement has significant implications for policing standards, civil liberties, and public accountability across Nigeria,” Mr Uwaifo said after the judgement.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The General Manager in charge of Transmission for Lagos Region of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Adeshina Adeonipekun, has stressed the critical role of Lagos in the national grid.
While receiving the chief executive of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Ms Wola Joseph Condotti, at his office on Monday, he said the Lagos region accounts for about 30 per cent of total power off-take in Nigeria.
He stated that TCN was implementing strategic expansion and project upgrades aimed at enhancing grid stability and operational efficiency in response to rising demand.
Mr Adeonipekun highlighted recent key milestones achieved in the region, including the commissioning of a 100MVA power transformer at the Ijora 132/33kV Transmission Substation, a 300MVA transformer at the Lekki 330/132kV Transmission Substation, and a 125MVA unit at the Agbara 132/33kV Substation, among others.
According to him, these additions have further increased the region’s installed capacity to 5,470MVA on the 132/33kV network and 4,110MVA on the 330/132kV network.
He further said that there were several ongoing rehabilitations at key substations within the region, including Amuwo GIS, Akoka 132/33kV, and Itire 132/33kV Transmission Substations, all geared towards further improving reliability, reducing system constraints, and enhancing the overall efficiency of power delivery.
In her remarks, Ms Condotti expressed appreciation for TCN’s continued partnership and support, underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration between transmission and distribution companies in building a more stable and efficient electricity transmission and supply network.
Both parties explored ways to strengthen collaboration and ensure a more stable and efficient power supply in Lagos, the nation’s commercial hub.
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