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Lagos Saves N138.54bn, Loses N24.69bn Properties To Fire

Lagos State government on Wednesday said that the State Fire Services and other emergency agencies in the state salvaged property worth N138.54bn from destruction in the state between May 2019 and April 2021.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Engr Tayo Bamgbose-Martins who disclosed this at the ongoing Ministerial briefing to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office lamented that properties worth N24.69bn and 113 people were lost to fire incidents in the state.

Commenting on the ministry’s effort to combat fire and other disasters in the State, he stated, “In the last two years, the Lagos Government had successfully saved an estimated worth of properties amounting to N138.54bn.

“A total number of 2,309 fire and other related emergency calls were also attended to in the last two years.

“10 percent out of the 1,899 fire outbreaks that occurred in the State were also reduced.”

According to him, “The State Fire and Rescue Service in the last two years recorded landmark achievements, largely due to the tremendous support and encouragement received from the state government led by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.”

Also speaking during the briefing, the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola disclosed that the commission registered over 6,000 facilities before they commenced operations amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

He added that the agency issued 4,250 events safety clearances and shot 450 clubs, bars, restaurants, event centres that violated COVID-19 protocols.

Mojola further disclosed that the commission prosecuted 720 people for COVID-19 violations in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, as well deployed 1,200 safety marshals to event Centres.

Lagos To Close Eko Bridge For 10 Weeks

Lagos State Government has announced plans to partially close the Eko Bridge from Costain to Alaka in bound National Stadium for 10 weeks for emergency repairs.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, in a press statement, said the repair works by the federal government require the road to be closed from June 4 to August 13.

Oladeinde explained that the repair was part of the rehabilitation works at the opposite side of the bridge earlier embarked upon by the Federal Government.

He said alternative routes have been made available for the motorists to manage traffic during the period of repairs.

The statement read, “Traffic from Apongbon to Alaka, Stadium, Inner Surulere or Ikorodu Road will be diverted to Eko Bridge to access Costain Roundabout to Iponri through Alaka and Funso Williams Avenue.

“Similarly, motorists from Eko bridge will have to navigate their desired destinations through Costain Roundabout to Abebe Village( by Nigerian Breweries Plc) through Eric Moore to Bode Thomas to Adeniran Ogunsanya, to access Sh*tta Roundabout by Stadium under the bridge to Funso Williams Avenue to Dorman-Long Bridge and Fadeyi-Ikorodu Road.

“Motorists can gain access to Apongbon through CMS Outer Marina Road to connect Ebute Metta Ikorodu Road to access their destinations.

“Motorists from Apongbon can pass through CMS to Outer Marina to Adeniji Adele, Third Mainland Bridge, Adekunle to Herbert Macaulay Way, Jibowu and Ikorodu road will also be available.”

“In like manners, traffic directions and road signals would be made available to minimize inconveniences that may be experienced while the construction work lasts,” he added.

Majoroh seeks restructuring of architecture curriculum

Former President, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Chief. Charles Majoroh has called for the restructuring of the six years of architectural studies in universities to align with medical training programme.

He also called for more computer science courses, creation of design applications by students and professionals to reduce importation of applications.

Majoroh stressed the need for the creation of programmes to detect plagiarism of designs among students to eliminate the dilemma created by technology on architectural practice

The architect spoke at the NIA 5th distinguished lecture, themed: “A Dilemma of Relevance,” held in Lagos. Majoroh further said the society needs to see the danger in overreaching in science technology as well as lifestyle and its consequences and plans for mitigation.

To enable professionals deal with the dilemma, he said the teaching process must seek the development of the mind of students from primary to tertiary levels.

“Right now, this can be achieved through a new route of learning process, which will foster the right attitude of mind and styles of thinking.”

This, he said, cannot possibly produce people with imagination, creativity, honesty, curiosity and the determination to get to the bottom of things, which are indispensable for successful intellectual and professional life.

He noted that architects have abandoned the use of timber drawing boards that carpenters could make and now pay attention to computer systems that uses unreliable energy.

He said the digital nature of applications has encouraged downloading and plagiarising with little attention to creativity.

In his remarks, Chairman of the event and the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, the Rt. Revd. Dr. Humphrey Olumakaiye, spoke against the rising cases of insecurity and regretted that lip service is paid on handling the issue.

He extolled the honouree for taking architecture profession to a greater height.

In his welcome address, Chairman, NIA Lagos state chapter, David Majekodunmi, said the lecturer had spent his career, advising, nurturing and mentoring people in the profession in Nigeria and abroad, focused on speedy action and critical role of architects in the society.

He noted ` that the building of effective institutions based on the rule of law is paramount.

According to him, there is need to address the full range of socio-economic and political factors for lasting peace to tackle root. He said the Nigerian Institute of Architects has come a long way in internalising and operationalising tthis insight.

Also, NIA President, Sonny Echono, said the institute had benefitted immensely considerably from the honouree’s knowledge and experience, as he is a repository and custodian off the history, norms and tradition and a name that is almost synonymous with architecture in Nigeria.

Earlier, the first Vice President and chair, the National Organising Committee of the lecture, Enyi-Ben Eboh, expressed hope that the lecture would inspire a new generation of leader in the architecture profession that will dedicate themselves to the selfless service, which the first generation leaders exhibited in the formation and nurturing of the institute and the regulatory body with a view to forging a united and formidable front in tackling the challenges of these contemporary times.

NB Plc Unveils 663.6 kWp Solar Plant in Ibadan Brewery

Nigerian Breweries Plc has delivered another first in the manufacturing sector of the Nigerian economy by pioneering solar-powered manufacturing with the commissioning of a Solar Plant at the Ibadan Brewery.

The 663.6 kilowatts per peak (kWp) solar plant was formally commissioned on Thursday, May 20, 2021, by the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Oluseyi Makinde

Speaking during the official commissioning ceremony, Governor Makinde commended the management of Nigerian Breweries Plc for investing in a solar plant which he noted would promote environmental sustainability, stating that his administration would continue to play its part by creating an environment that supports businesses in the state to grow.

Makinde also lauded the commitment of the company towards achieving its very ambitious target of switching to 70% renewable energy usage by 2030 stating that the completion of the Ibadan Solar Power Plant has clearly demonstrated its determination to reach the goal.

“This is another first in Oyo State. When history will be written how NB Plc shifted from electricity to renewable energy, it would be said that Ibadan Plant was the first and as a government, we are very proud to be part of this story”, he added.

In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Chief (Dr) Kolawole Jamodu (CFR) extolled the governor for his efforts in positioning the state as an investment destination and creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive which had encouraged the company to site the pilot of its solar power project in Ibadan.

Jamodu expressed his delight at the project completion, describing it as a demonstration of NB’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

Delivering his keynote speech, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Jordi Borrut Bel described the project as a first of its kind in the manufacturing sector as Nigerian Breweries is the first brewer in Nigeria to commission a solar power plant providing renewable, clean energy for manufacturing.

Bel disclosed that in addition to this solar plant in Ibadan, the company is already developing other renewable energy plants in its other breweries to ensure that 70% of the electricity used in all of its breweries is powered from clean sources.

“We are not only interested in being Number 1 in Sales and profitability. We also want to be number 1 in environmental sustainability – ensuring that the communities where our breweries are located benefit from our operations in the best possible way” he said.

“Apart from developing renewable energies to ensure cleaner air, we are also investing heavily in ensuring cleaner water for our communities. As such, we have taken great pains to build a state-of-the-art, wastewater treatment plant in our breweries to ensure that we do not cause water pollution. All wastewater produced from the brewery are properly treated and monitored in line with regulatory requirements before they are discharged, making them safe and not harmful to aquatic life and the environment in general”, he added.

He disclosed that the plant which was built at the cost of over N300 million is part of NB Plc’s Brew A Better World sustainability agenda, which is aimed at meeting the company’s carbon neutrality targets through increased energy efficiency in its production.

He further revealed that the solar plant was built through a fully financed solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) executed with Crossboundary Energy Limited. It is expected to supply approximately 800 MWh to the brewery annually, providing a significant reduction to the current cost of power, while also reducing the plant’s CO2 emissions by over 10,000 tonnes over the lifespan of the plant.