1. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, has laid the foundation for 250 housing units in Sokoto. He announced that 50,000 housing units would be built nationwide under this program and warned contractors against substandard work. The estate will include 50 one-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

2. President Bola Tinubu’s Federal Executive Council has awarded 51 contracts worth N6.27 trillion over eight months for various infrastructure projects across Nigeria. These contracts, awarded between October 16, 2023, and May 14, 2024, include 43 road projects and three airport contracts, among others, aimed at developing roads, bridges, train systems, and airport infrastructure.

3. The Federal government has announced the indefinite suspension of the Air Nigeria Airline project. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, noted that the ‘national carrier’ that was supposed to be an indigenous project and one that was supposed to spark hope for Nigerians, was flawed with a lot of secrecy and fraudulent activities.

READ ALSO: Trending News: Top 10 stories this Morning

4. The Ekiti State government has sought a partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to complete 2,000 housing units for low and medium income earners. Governor Biodun Oyebanji made this appeal during a visit to the FMBN in Abuja, led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive, Shehu Osidi. Oyebanji reiterated the need for collaboration with the FMBN to achieve his policy of providing “shelter for all.”

5. The Nigerian military has reopened the popular Banex Plaza in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja after over a week-long closure. The plaza resumed operations around 2:30 PM on Monday. The market had been sealed by military authorities on May 18 following a violent clash between traders and military personnel.

6. President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company, Bismarck Rewane, clashed over the revised minimum wage demand by Organised Labour. Originally set at N615,000, the demand has been reduced to N497,000. Rewane argued that this figure is unfeasible, while Ajaero maintained it reflects Nigeria’s current socio-economic conditions.

7. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that the Federal Government spends N1 billion monthly to power Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. Keyamo announced plans to reduce these costs by investing in solar power systems. He explained that the ministry is bypassing power distribution companies to purchase electricity directly from generating companies, a strategy expected to save the Federal Government approximately N300 million.

8. The Benue State House of Assembly has repealed the law providing lifetime maintenance for former elected governors and their deputies. The 9th Assembly had controversially passed this pension bill in May 2023, just days before their term ended, extending benefits to ex-governors and deputies dating back to 1999. However, during a plenary session on Monday, the current 10th Assembly, led by Speaker Aondona Dajoh, repealed the bill, arguing it was not enacted in good faith. Lawmakers unanimously supported the repeal, labeling the law as anti-people.

READ ALSO; Trending News: Top 10 stories this Morning
9. Nearly six months after the Nigeria Police Force demolished the Police Officers’ Wives Association Shopping Complex on May 31, 2023, displaced traders are still seeking justice. They accuse Emmanuel Ojibo, Managing Director of Achieving Greatness Limited, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and his wife, Elizabeth Egbetokun, of violating a court order that stopped the demolition. According to Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, the demolition was necessary to construct a new contemporary retail complex on the site.

10. The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstances, can reach their full potential. The commission called on stakeholders to support its mission to provide quality education for all children.

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This was disclosed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Ope George, while presenting the scorecard of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, on Thursday, at the Y2024 Ministerial Press Briefing in Lagos, to commemorate the first anniversary of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu the second term in office.

In a statement on the website of the Lagos State government on Thursday, he said that out of the N700m projected revenue from Land Use Charge for 2024, the state government realised N300m within the first four months.

According to George, the statistics show that the LUC projection in the 2024 annual budget is achievable and indicates a promising trajectory for surpassing annual revenue projections.

He also maintained that Lagos’ economy remained robust and still contributed about 20 per cent of the entire country’s gross domestic product.

He said, “Over the last couple of years, Lagos had faced numerous challenges, particularly when COVID-19 and #EndSARS struck. And so, we have had a lot of shocks within our system over the last couple of years and with everything going on around the world. We are currently riding the curve and we are coming out on a better side. You hear sometimes when they say Lagos is one of the largest economies in Africa and truly, it is not static. We will continue to move based on what is going on in the world.

READ ALSO: Ekiti to introduce land use charge to boost economy

“As we speak now, I believe that we are currently ranked seventh in terms of GDP in Africa. We contribute at least a minimum of over 20 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and you will find that throughout review, during the first term of Mr Governor, we are moving in the right direction.

“Our GDP has moved from about N27tn to N41tn, everything shows that our indices are climbing in the right direction despite all the shocks and all the problems we have witnessed in the past.”Related News

Speaking on the state’s N2.267tn budget for 2024, the commissioner posited that the budget was inadequate to meet the infrastructural needs of the state.

He revealed that the financial needs of government agencies were more than N4tn.

The commissioner explained, “What this implies is that Lagos can have a budget size of N4tn but going by the available indices at the moment, such projection can not be made until there are available means and revenue sources that can conveniently fund such budget size.”

According to George, the budget performance of the state in 2023 was 87 per cent.

George noted that the budget was focused on the completion of ongoing projects, such as the Blue and Red Line Rail System, Stadia, Lekki-Epe Road, New Massey Children Hospital, Opebi-Mende Link Bridge, etc.

READ ALSO: Land Use Act Hinders Housing Deficit Reduction, Stakeholders Assert

 “It is also geared towards ensuring that every endeavour, investment, partnership, and policy translates effectively into tangible positive outcomes in the lives of Lagos residents and its environs,” he said.

Land Use Charge is a levy on all landed properties payable under the Lands Rates, Neighborhood Improvement Charge and Tenement Rates Laws of Lagos State.

The Land Use Charge derives its legitimacy from the Lagos State Land Use Charge Law 2020.

The post Lagos Rakes in N300m Land Use Charge in Four Months, Says Commissioner appeared first on Housing TV Africa.