Business
Youths Hijack Building Plan Approvals In Akpor
In spite of recent moves made by the
Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning at ensuring that houses
being built within Port Harcourt and its environs get proper Approval from the ministry; some community
youths, especially those in Akpor axis have taken over the job as they go from
site to site asking to verify approval documents.
The Tide gathered that these youths with the quest to make
money for themselves have organised themselves as agents of the Ministry of Urban
Development and now go from one building development site to the other.
It was reliably gathered that they make bargain with every
developer with a minimal threat to stop the building development if nothing is
done to settle them financially.
A visit to one of the project sites within Rumuekini/Rumuosi
axis in Akpor revealed that these youths took advantage of the dry season when
many housing development projects are executed to compel developers to pay for
their plan approval, as representative of the ministry.
A native of Rumuekini community, who also supervises projects
in the areas, told The Tide that the community youths did not just come on
their own to make demands for plan approval.
According to him, the officials of the ministry had an
arrangement with these youths to help them in the enforcement of the plan
approval, since they, the officials of the ministry, can not always be
available to check all the project sites.
However, when The Tide called at the office of the
Commissioner for Urban Development, Dr Tammy Danagogo, he was said to be away
on official assignment, but a source from the ministry told our reporter that
the Ministry of Urban Development did not engage youths in any community to
serve as their agents. According to the
source, the ministry in line with the vision of the present administration does
not tolerate touting, as a result, directed that a one-stop shop for everything
about building plan and approval be done in Room 307 of the ministry.
The source also hinted that no local government had the right
to approve or register building plan, but that most of them claim that they are
representing the ministry, and urged the public to arrest such impostors.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.