‘NIGERIA MUST NOT BE LEFT BEHIND’: EXPERTS TELL GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS, RENEWABLE ENERGY AT CED FORUM; ODUSOLA ELATED ABOUT 26TH EDITION
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Director, Road Maintainance and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Works, Lagos State, Mr. Ajanaku Tokunbo; CEO Amelin Projects LTD, Engr. Eloho Amagada; Chairman of the occasion/President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arch. Enyi Ben-Eboh and Publisher, CED Magazine, Kenneth Odusola Stevenson during the 26th Annual CED Forum/Award held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.
Industry players in the infrastructure, real estate, and energy sector have tasked the Nigerian government to reduce investment in fossil fuel while also engaging in sustainable designs for infrastructure development.
They hinted that the world is adopting renewable energy sources like natural gas which Nigeria has large deposits. They made this known at the 26th edition of the CED Annual Forum and awards which held over the weekend with different theme including; ‘Implementing Practical Solutions for Nigeria’s Infrastructure Development: Lagos Smart City Initiative as Case Study’.
The Chairman of the occasion and President of Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arch. Enyi Ben-Eboh said: ‘There is a need for an integrated structure masterplan which is proactive and responsive to the current realities. There is need to anticipate and plan for the population growth in Lagos.’
L-R: Director, Road Maintainance and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Works, Lagos State, Mr. Ajanaku Tokunbo; CEO Amelin Projects LTD, Engr. Eloho Amagada; Chairman of the occasion/President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arch. Enyi Ben-Eboh and Publisher, CED Magazine, Kenneth Odusola Stevenson during the 26th Annual CED Forum/Award held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.
‘Also the world is moving away from fossil fuel to renewable energy. There is no need for Nigeria to be investing so much where others are divesting to other forms of energy. If you don’t move with the world you will be left behind. The car you want to use is not made in Nigeria so if the producers don’t make the ones using fuel anymore and you are producing fuel, what will be the use of your fuel. But we have high deposit of natural gas which is a safer form of energy which we could use. It is cheaper and cleaner’, he told Trek Africa Newspaper.
Enyi-Eboh advised industry players to speak truth to power on infrastrucrure policies. ‘It is a wake-up call to professionals that we need to be watchdog and advocates to government to caution on some decisions taken by them. We also need to work as a team so that infrastructure growth is coordinated with data. Infrastructure is central to catalyzing development. It will also create employment for our reeming youths which about 50% are below 35 years of age.’
The convener of the forum and Publisher of CED Magazine, Kenneth Odusola Stevenson noted about the conference which is now in its 26th edition, ‘We do this to change the narrative in the various sectors of the economy. Every year we look at what is trending globally. Now, it is energy transition. It is not a joke that we have done this for 26 years. The conversation continues.’
On the Lagos Smart City Initiative, Odusola hinted: ‘The Lagos megacity story is a success story for us all. I was part of it when the late Mabogunje was advocating for megacity with President Obasanjo. Though it is still not where it supposed to be but it has started with a planning followed by the NEPAD review committee in 2000 and other programmes in Durban, Barcelona and so on.’
Arch Oladipo Emmanuel (right)
He expressed his disappointment on recent building collapse trends in Lagos. ‘What we have observed is that Lagos is not conducting integrity tests on buildings that have been around for 50, 100 years. There is a need to consistently do integrity tests to prevent building collapse. The regulatory agency must be up and doing. Integrity tests is not only for old buildings. Some of the people building highrise are wicked, they get approval for 2 floors and build 16 floors and the regulatory agency look away.’
‘The message is for government to follow the best practices. Look at the storm in Florida yet some buildings are standing. Also the professionals should know that their integrity is at stake. Recall the Ikoyi collapse when the structural engineer withdrew because the property owener was not complying but what did the Lagos State Government do, they looked the other way. Eventually the owner died in the building’, he told Trek Africa Newspaper.
L-R: MD/CEO, CA, Engr. Philip Balami Yaro; Director, Road Maintainance and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Works, Lagos State, Mr. Ajanaku Tokunbo; CEO Amelin Projects LTD, Engr. Eloho Amagada; Chairman of the occasion/President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arch. Enyi Ben-Eboh; President, NNPC Eastern Zone Retired Staff Investment Cooperative Society LTD, Francis Iyanbunke and Publisher, CED Magazine, Kenneth Odusola Stevenson during the 26th Annual CED Forum/Award held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.
On his part, CEO of Amelin Projects Limited, Engr. Eloho Innocent Amagada remarked: ‘forums like this are meant to formulate policies so when we identify gaps, we can discuss them. This is a time forus to move from fossil fuel to renewable energy. We need to reverse some of the government’s moves. We believe that the next administration should put square pegs in square holes. We have to work together as policy makers and implementers. We have to grouw our country, let’s not shy away.’
Also, Arch. Oladapo Emmanuel shared: ‘My message is to the public. The problem is not the government but the public. I recall that one of my bricklayers came to me that my job is so good and he has given the plan to another person. I was very sad because this plan was not designed for your site. We are looking at the cheapest wasy out but that is wrong. We have to be ready to bear the cost of what we want to do. We just like to put the blame on the government but it is about the individual.’
