By Mariam Akande

Nigerian democracy has again shown its maturity, says a political support group based in the United Kingdom (UK), Bola Tinubu Support Organisation (BTSO-UK).

The group’s Director-General, Mr Ade Adeshina, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, while reacting to the judgement of the Supreme Court, affirming Mr Bola Tinubu as the duly elected president of Nigeria.

Adeshina noted that the process, starting from electioneering campaigns, proper elections and all through the judicial processes, demonstrated that Nigeria had come of age.

According to him, the Nigerian democratic experience has become the pride of Africa, particularly in the West Africa region.

“Nigeria is currently the world’s most populous black nation. The country is Africa’s biggest economy. And one of the world’s largest democracies.

“With the Supreme Court decision, Nigerians must not take for granted the country’s modest achievements,” Adeshina said.

He described the process, including the Supreme Court pronouncement, triumph for democracy and justice.

“A time to go back to the renew hope agenda to build the Nigeria of our dreams,” he added.

Adeshina said it was heartening to witness the democratic process in action, and validating the collective voice of the Nigerian people.

“With this affirmation, we can now move forward with renewed confidence in our chosen leader.

“President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to democracy and the rule of law is an inspiration to us all.

“His dedication to the welfare of the nation and its citizens has not gone unnoticed. We look forward to a brighter future under his leadership,” he said.

Adeshina, however, cautioned those who might want to undermine the nation’s democratic process and sow discord to jettison such acts.

“It is time to accept the verdict and join hands with the majority. Let us focus on the task at hand; building a stronger, united Nigeria.

“For those whose pockets may be burning with ambitions of wealth, let us remind them that true wealth lies in the well-being of our fellow citizens.

“It’s time to embark on a journey of helping the needy and contributing to the prosperity of our great nation,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Olawunmi Ashafa

L-R: Mr Femi Fatoki, member, Lagos Branch, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS); Mr Adedeji Sebiotimo chairman, 2023 workshop planning committee; guest speakers, and others at the association’s 2023 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) workshop on Thursday in Lagos

Surveyors

By Grace Alegba

The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has called for creation of a ministry for testing buildings in Lagos State and annual updating of map to curb building collapse and flooding in the state.

NIS Lagos Branch made the call during its 2023 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) workshop with the theme: “Comparative Analysis of Building Information Model For Structural Health Monitoring,” on Thursday in Lagos.

The society also advised Nigerians to engage professional surveyors for documentations towards getting genuine Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to prevent loss of investments through collapse, flooding or forfeiture.

Chairman, NIS, Lagos Branch, Mr Olukolade Kasim, said the workshop was organised to train and retrain members for best standards to curb the menace of building collapse and flooding.

According to Kasim, the NIS usually collaborates with all the other six built environment experts including architects, engineers, builders, town planners, amongst others towards construction of solid structures.

He called for regular monitoring of infrastructure towards determining thier structural health and stability using modern tools like scanners to prevent faults that may develop underneath the earth crust.

He said regular monitoring of bridges and tall buildings was important, urging the Lagos State government to create a ministry attached to the Surveyor General’s office for the purpose of monitoring and testing buildings.

He explained that highrise buildings constructed with best globally accepted procedures and standards could become sick as a result of movement underneath the earth, hence the need for periodic tests.

He cited the example of a bridge at Bonny Camp area in Lagos which was noticed to have one of its pillars shifting before the government fixed the problem to avert collapse.

“We are recommending that bridges and tall ranking buildings should be monitored periodically,” he said.

Mr Adedeji Sebiotimo, chairman of the 2023 workshop planning committee, called for annual updating of the Lagos map for proper planning to capture new settlements.

Sebiotimo, a fellow of NIS and Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Branch, said updated mapping would reveal accurate topography of land either high or low as a determinant of what and where to build without the risks of flooding or collapse.

“And from the mapping results we will be able to know areas that have infrastructure or those lacking infrastructure in terms of roads or developments, a lot of things can be seen from the map,” he said.

He said in 2022, 320 surveyors registered for the workshop, but that 495 registered for the 2023 programme, aimed at exposing surveyors to current trends to reshape their knowledge and skills.

The guest speaker, Dr Joseph Odumosu, explained common errors made by civil engineers and other built environment professionals in trying to hijack the roles of surveyors.

He advised surveyors not to certify projects that they did not supervise to avoid being liable for unethical practices and failure of the structures.

Odumosu, a lecturer at Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, said scanners should be used for proper imagery of highrise as well as to determine the health of the buildings using new technologies.

The second guest speaker, Mr Awofeko Abiodun, said all states in Nigeria had GIS departments, which aims to strengthen Land Information System and Land Administration Systems, but he said publicity was needed for the public to harness opportunities.

The event had the sub theme: “Application of BIM in Strata Survey: Methodology and Presentation.” (NAN)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Olatunde Ajayi

Certa Law Clinics, a legal initiative, has offered free legal support to some indigents who could not afford legal fees in Ibadan.

The Co-founder of the initiative, Mr Charles Oyarekua, speaking during a two-day free legal aid programme said the initiative was targeted at improving access to justice within local communities.

Oyarekua added that the legal aid initiative put together to give back to the community seeks to empower 5,000 lives with legal aid within three years.

“Our aim is to create access to free legal services for indigents in the local communities. People in the local communities have a lot of issues with legal services.

“We noticed that they lack basic information on way forward and financial capacity to engage lawyers, that is why we came up with this initiative to close the gap.

“We have a goal of empowering 5,000 lives with legal aid within three years. We are doing this through workshops and free legal supports to community development councils and other community groups.

“We also sensitise people about their rights so that their rights would not be trampled upon,” he said.

Also speaking, the Assistant Legal Aid Officer, Legal Aid Council, Oyo state office, Bar. Rasheed Salawu, said the initiative was in line with the mandate of the council to provide free legal support to indigents in the society.

Salawu added that the initiative would bring relief for the people who could not afford legal fees to defend their rights.

He noted that many people in the grassroots were suffering from injustices because of their poor financial status and lack of right information.

let go some injustices against them because of their poor financial status and lack of right information.

“This initiative is an eye opener and good way of sensitising the indigents in the community to know where and what to do when they have issues.

“It our core mandate in Legal Aid Council to help and assist the indigents in the community. We cannot do it all alone, that is the reason we have synergy with private bodies, NGOs with focus on our mandate,” he said.

In his contribution, the Chairman, Community Development Council (CDC), Ibadan South-East Local Government, Pa Fatai Oloyede, said the initiative had brought hope to the poor people in the grassroots who could not engage lawyers.

Oloyede urged citizens to always seek legal advice and avoid taking laws into their hands.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Balikis Olajide, said her contact with the Certa Law Clinics had given her the privilege of resolving her legal matter at no cost.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several people with land dispute, marital dispute, unlawful dismissal and gender violence, among others got free legal aid. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma