December 2011

Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri received on Thursday 29/12/2011 six Arab housing ministers to review the outcome of an Arab League ministerial housing council meeting which wrapped up in Cairo Thursday and ways to coordinate Arab housing strategies and unify building codes.

The owners of the multi-billion naira warehouses near the Karu International Market in Nasarawa State demolished by agents of the Nasarawa State Government have debunked claims that they were illegal structures.

Mama Rosalie of Damas quarter in the capital of Cameroon trudges down a narrow, winding footpath, headed for a narrow stream running far below, a 20-litre water container in her right hand.

The governor of the southern Namibe province, Candida Celeste da Silva, on Thursday here expressed her concern at the resettlement of the population hit by the rain in March, Angop has learnt.

Yesterday the Tunisian Libyan Forum for Construction and Reconstruction began in Tunis.

Implementation of two major road projects in Arusha has not started because the consultants are still working on the final designs.

Over 1000 people were on Thursday left homeless after they were evicted by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for allegedly encroaching on a wetland in Jinja municipality.

On Sunday, December 18, toll collectors at the Eti-Osa/Lekki Epe expressway, had their first fee-paying customer, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, when he drove his Range Rover Sports Utility van across their toll bar. It was symbolic. The issue of toll collection in that axis has become somewhat controversial since it was concessioned to Messrs Lekki Concessioning Company.

The government has begun expropriations exercise in Kimicanga in Kimihurura Sector, Gasabo District to pave way for the implementation of the Kigali City Master Plan.

PROSPECTIVE home seekers in Chitungwiza will from now pay up to US$3 000 for a 200 square metre high density residential stand up from US$200. The funds would be used to fund council capital projects.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have become a permanent feature in our media, especially following the formation of the National Accord.

Vice President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Mr. Moses Ogunleye, has urged both the federal and state governments to create an enabling environment in 2012 for developers to provide housing.

In the hierarchy of needs, housing comes second after food. Given the prominence of housing, most Nigerians are of the opinion that it is yet to be given serious thought by all levels of government in the country. This is against the background of statistics that indicate that Nigeria has a housing deficit of 16 million units for a population of 150 million: a staggering number by all indications.

The Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Malam Isah Shuaibu, has denied ever being involved in the demolition of some gardens and parks in the FCT. Malam Shuaibu who spoke in an interview, stated that it was not the responsibility of the AEPB to demolish any structure in Abuja, rather, the job of demolition lies with the Development Control Department. "I never ordered that any park or garden should be demolished since that is not under my office's statutory responsibility, rather it is t