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[OPINION] Oshiomhole/Obaseki: Once In “Corn-panionship,” Now In “Corn-flict” - Isaac Asabor
There was a time when former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki, were united in a show of political companionship. For instance in 2016, for both political figures were the talk of the town when alongside Godwin Obaseki, his successor, he patronized a roadside corn seller. The camaraderie displayed by both, 8 years down the line, remains spectacularas men chewed roasted corn publicly and smiled for the cameras.
Against the foregoing backdrop, a Facebook user, OshiokeAudu, ostensibly in the mood of reminiscence recently posted the picture on a Facebook Page, and captioned it thus: “Be careful who you eat Corn with, Corn today fit turn Corn-flict tomorrow!”
Without a doubt, the memorable image from Benin City captured them eating roasted corn on the streets, a humble act that resonated with the people. In that moment, they symbolized unity, shared goals, and connection to the grassroots, what could be described as true “corn-panionship.”
But that unity has since unraveled. The street snack that once bound them now stands as a bitter reminder of their fractured relationship. Today, Oshiomhole and Obaseki find themselves at odds, caught in a fierce political “corn-flict.” What began as a close bond has soured into rivalry, and their once shared vision for Edo State has been overshadowed by personal and political differences.
In fact, in politics, alliances are often fragile, and what seems like a solid partnership can quickly disintegrate. Oshiomhole and Obaseki were once tightly aligned, much like the kernels of corn they ate together. Their “corn-panionship” was built on mutual respect, trust, and the desire to govern Edo State effectively. Oshiomhole, a political godfather figure, had backed Obaseki’s rise to power, ensuring that his successor would carry forward his legacy.
But as time passed, the bond between them began to weaken. Political ambitions and the desire for control led to tensions beneath the surface. Just like the kernels on a cob can be separated, so too did their political relationship fall apart. Their “corn-flict” emerged, and what was once a display of unity turned into a public feud. The rift between Oshiomhole and Obaseki is now one of the most prominent examples of how political friendships can quickly dissolve into bitter rivalries.
The transition from “cornpanions” to opponents was swift. Oshiomhole, who had once championed Obaseki’s gubernatorial bid, became one of his most vocal critics. The fallout seemed inevitable, as both men pursued different paths and their interests began to clash. Oshiomhole, with his strongman approach to politics, clashed with Obaseki’s growing desire for independence as governor.
The political rift escalated, leading to Oshiomhole’s ousting as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Obaseki’s departure from the party altogether. What was once a harmonious relationship became a fierce political battleground, with both men vying for control and influence over Edo’s political landscape. The “corn-flict” became symbolic of the larger power struggle between a godfather and his estranged protégé.
While the political elite engages in these personal battles, it is the people of Edo State who feel the brunt of the conflict. The energy once channeled towards governance has been redirected into maintaining political supremacy. Projects and policies that could improve the lives of ordinary citizens are often stalled or overshadowed by the drama of political infighting. In the end, it is the people who suffer when leaders allow their personal grievances to take center stage.
This “corn-flict” serves as a cautionary tale of how power can corrupt even the most seemingly solid alliances. The focus of governance shifts from serving the public to settling scores. The image of Oshiomhole and Obaseki once eating corn together now stands in stark contrast to the divided leadership that has ensued in the wake of their fallout.
The story of Oshiomhole and Obaseki is a warning to other political leaders. What began as camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose soon devolved into animosity and division. Their once strong bond disintegrated not only because of personal ambitions but also due to a failure to prioritize the greater good. When politicians allow personal interests to overshadow the needs of the people, governance suffers, and so does the public trust.
There is an important caution here for those who hold public office: Political alliances should never be taken for granted. As fragile as kernels of corn bound together on a cob, these relationships require constant nurturing, transparency, and humility. Leaders must be careful not to let the intoxicating nature of power blind them to the promises they made to the people. Failure to do so, as seen in the Oshiomhole-Obaseki fallout, can lead to betrayal and a collapse in governance.
Leaders across Nigeria should reflect on this “corn-flict” and take heed of the dangers of letting political strife get in the way of effective leadership. It serves as a reminder that politics is not a game of personal vendettas but a commitment to public service. Leaders should prioritize unity, collaboration, and the well-being of their constituents over ego-driven battles that only serve to divide.
Though divided by conflict today, there remains the possibility of reconciliation. Just as corn is replanted each season, alliances can be mended. For the good of Edo State, both Oshiomhole and Obaseki could choose to set aside their differences and return to the sense of public service that first united them. The corn they once shared could serve as a symbol of healing, rather than division, if they choose to refocus on their responsibilities to the people they govern.
This caution should also extend beyond Edo State. As Nigeria navigates its complex political landscape, the leaders of today should remember that public office is not a personal fiefdom but a sacred trust. Leaders must learn to rise above petty squabbles and deliver on the promises they made to the people.
The journey of Oshiomhole and Obaseki from “corn-panions” to adversaries is one that should serve as a lesson to others. Political friendships, like kernels on a cob, may seem closely aligned but can quickly fall apart under pressure. The “corn-flict” that has now defined their relationship should remind leaders everywhere that power and ambition, if not checked, can lead to unnecessary divisions that ultimately harm the people they are meant to serve.
At the end of the day, the humble corn they ate on the streets of Benin symbolized unity and service to the people. That spirit of “corn-panionship” should guide them now, if they can recognize that the conflicts of today need not define the legacies of tomorrow.
Leaders must tread carefully, for the seeds of division are easily sown. It is only by nurturing the bonds of “cornpanionship” that they can avoid the kind of “corn-flict” that erodes both leadership and trust.
UK clears Amazon's AI partnership with Anthropic
Britain's competition regulator said on Friday Amazon's artificial intelligence partnership with startup Anthropic will not be referred for a deeper probe as it did not raise competition concerns.
The Competition and Markets Authority said the partnership, which includes a $4 billion investment by Amazon in Anthropic, did not qualify for investigation under Britain's merger regulations.
"We welcome the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decision acknowledging its lack of jurisdiction regarding this collaboration," an Amazon spokesperson said in response to the regulator's decision.
The regulator has also cleared a similar collaboration between
Microsoft and Inflection AI.
However, Alphabet's partnership with Anthropic is still under scrutiny.
"Anthropic is an independent company and our strategic partnerships and investor relationships do not diminish our corporate governance independence or freedom to partner with others," an Anthropic spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.
Anthropic, which was co-founded by former OpenAI executives and siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, has received billions of dollars in investments from several tech giants.
Antitrust regulators around the world have increasingly raised concerns over multiple deals struck between smaller industry startups and big tech companies.
[economictimes]
China wants its local companies to boycott billionaire Huang’s Nvidia Chips
China is re-enforcing efforts to encourage domestic companies to favour homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) chips over Jensen Huang’s Nvidia advanced semiconductors.
This is to bolster its semiconductor industry and counteract the effects of US-imposed sanctions, according sources who spoke to Bloomberg.
In recent months, Beijing has issued informal directives, advising Chinese companies to reduce their reliance on Nvidia’s H20 chips, which are widely used in AI development.
Although the guidance stops short of an outright ban, it forms part of China’s broader objective to strengthen its technological self-reliance, while cautiously navigating ongoing tensions with the United States, insiders report.
The pressure reflects Beijing’s ambition to accelerate the market share growth of domestic chipmakers such as Cambricon Technologies and Huawei, positioning them as viable alternatives to foreign suppliers. This comes amid heightened concerns over potential further restrictions on US technology exports to China.
What we know
The move follows similar measures earlier this year, where Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers were encouraged to source more components from domestic producers, as the country seeks to reduce its dependence on foreign technologies.
Shares of Nvidia, the world’s most valuable chipmaker, fell by up to 3.9% on Friday following the reports. Nvidia has seen its stock surge over 100% this year, driven by booming demand for its AI processors globally, despite ongoing trade restrictions.
Beijing’s guidance, while non-binding, aligns with a broader industrial policy aimed at safeguarding China’s access to critical technologies. The US government has already banned Nvidia from selling its most advanced AI chips to Chinese customers, forcing the company to modify its products to comply with export control regulations. Nvidia’s H20 line, designed to meet these requirements, remains a key product in China’s AI sector.
What you should know
Despite the growing push to use local chips, Beijing is still prepared to allow companies to purchase foreign semiconductors if necessary to remain competitive in the global AI race, sources added.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, addressing the ongoing situation, said that the company is committed to supporting its Chinese customers within the confines of US regulations. “We have a lot of customers in China who depend on us, and we’ll do our best to support them,” Huang said in an interview with Bloomberg.
China remains a significant market for Nvidia, contributing 12% of its total revenue in the July quarter, amounting to approximately $3.7 billion. However, the company’s CFO Colette Kress acknowledged that trade restrictions have impacted Nvidia’s market share in China, although demand remains robust.
While Chinese chipmakers are making progress, their AI processors still lag behind Nvidia’s offerings. Beijing has committed billions of dollars in subsidies to accelerate domestic semiconductor development, but the technology gap remains a challenge.
Nevertheless, China’s AI sector continues to flourish. Tech giants like ByteDance and Alibaba, along with a wave of emerging startups, are investing heavily in AI innovation.
Despite the regulatory push, some Chinese companies are discreetly purchasing Nvidia chips, anticipating further US sanctions by year-end, while simultaneously increasing their procurement of domestic alternatives to align with Beijing’s directives.
[Nairametrics]
EFCC Raids Usmanu Dan Fodio Varsity Hostels, Arrests Students
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have carried out a midnight raid on private hostels of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), leading to the arrest of several students in the early hours of Saturday.
The raid reportedly occurred in the Kwakwalawa and Gidan Yaro communities, areas predominantly populated by university students in Sokoto. According to eyewitness accounts, the EFCC operatives stormed the hostels around 4am, indiscriminately arresting multiple students.
One student recounted, “They came at dawn, entered our rooms, and began arresting us without any explanation.” The EFCC was yet to issue a statement regarding the raid or provide reasons for the arrests.
The incident mirrored a similar raid that took place in February at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State, where EFCC officials arrested students in a midnight operation targeting hostels outside the campus. During that operation, students’ lodges in the Orita Obele and Road Block areas were raided around 2am, with operatives breaking into rooms and arresting occupants.
Several FUTA students initially mistook the EFCC operatives for kidnappers due to the aggressive nature of the raid. According to reports, the officials—who were from the Benin Zonal office of the commission—allegedly destroyed property and subjected many students to physical assault, including female students.
LEADERSHIP also recalls that following the incident, the executive chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, issued a directive barring operatives of the anti-graft Commission from midnight raids.
[Leadership]
My Biggest Challenge In Service Was Workers’ Resistance To Reforms – Yemi-Esan
The immediate past Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan has revealed that her greatest challenge while in service was the resistance of civil servants to reforms.
The former HoS spoke at a dinner in her honour by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation which took place in Abuja.
She explained that civil servants showed serious resistance to new reforms introduced during her tenure, particularly the resistance to change old ways of doing things.
Her words: “Convincing them to accept better way of doing things was a mountainous challenge. You know the initial reaction to anything new is resistance. To convince civil servants to accept our reforms was a big challenge.
She also highlighted how collaboration was instrumental in facilitating digitalization efforts within the civil service, and called for understanding with civil servants and greater collaboration between the public and private sectors to enhance civil service reforms.
“First of all, before we talk about legacies, I just want to acknowledge and thank God for the success. It is not what any human being could have done, so I acknowledge the help of God. The partnerships especially with the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, helped a great deal. They provided both personnel expertise and funding.
“But we were able to convince them by communication. We had communication with different stakeholders to ensure that they bought into the vision and what we were trying to do.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, praised the former HoS for her commitment and leadership.
He also conveyed a message from former President Olusegun Obasanjo who praised Yemi-Esan for her dedication and efficient management during her tenure.
[DailyTrust]
Benue politician evicted from own house as wife uses property for loan collateral
A former governorship candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2023 election in Benue State, Mr Ewaoche Benjamin Obe, has been thrown out of his Abuja house after his wife allegedly used the property as collateral for a loan.
DAILY POST gathered that the house located at the Sagwari Layout of Dutse, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was built by the politician.
The wife identified as Christiana Obe had been married to Obe since 2006. The couple hailed from Ogbadibo Local Government Area LGA of Benue State.
It was gathered on Saturday that the incident happened on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
Obe, while on his way to Benue State, received a call that some security operatives invaded his Abuja house and had begun to evict him from his own property.
Angered by the report, the politician swiftly made a u-turn along the Keffi road in Nasarawa State.
Upon returning to the house, he was handed a court document where it was stated that the same house had been confiscated over an outstanding loan taken by his wife.
But Obe told DAILY POST upon getting to the scene that he was never issued any court notice prior to the day his house was invaded by the security personnel.
Some military men in uniform and police officers were seen at the scene with Obe’s property littered across the street of Sagwari Layout.
Obe, referring to his wife, intermittently told our correspondent: “She has done her worse. This is a house I built with my hard-earned money.”
In a Facebook live, Obe claimed his wife stormed the house that belongs to him in collusion with some officers, wondering why a court could confiscate a property without prior notices.
Asked whether he was contacted by the lenders when the loan was taken, Obe said he had no knowledge the wife took any loan and was never contacted prior to the alleged loan.
He also disclosed that the wife took his son away to a place, apparently to a new apartment prior to the incident.
He also denied being served any court paper prior to the eviction.
“I was never served. This was plotted by my wife and the officers that came. We have been having issues for a while and I think this is her best way of getting at me,” he said.
It was gathered that Christiana, an officer of the Nigerian Air Force, had prior to the eviction, moved some of her things out of the house, including air-conditioners.
She went away unquestioned as Obe claimed he did not want to create a scene.
Meanwhile, our correspondent obtained the court papers served during the eviction. In the court paper, it was claimed the claimant had lived in the said duplex as a tenant.
A family member who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Ewaoche (Obe) has invested a lot in this woman, even the job she currently has came from him. He saw this woman through school and has invested in her life in so many other ways. How do you connive with external persons to bring down a man you have lived with for more than two decades? How?.
“From the look of things, it is clear this is a clear case of oppression. Assuming this happened to a woman, we will say is because “na woman. This is a direct opposite. How can wife take a loan without informing the husband? Why did the lender not call to get details from property owner? Who values a house without a man who owns it? Something is seriously missing in all these.
“We gathered that the court papers are all fake and the people commissioned to carry out the eviction were mobilized illegally. We want the Air Force and the police to investigate the officers in the video.”
When contacted by DAILY POST, Christiana simply said “I am not under any obligation to speak to anyone.”
Video:
https://www.facebook.com/ewaochebenjamin.obe/videos/3360496967591134/?app=fbl
[DailyPost]
EPL: Gordon penalty denies Man City victory at Newcastle
Anthony Gordon’s second-half penalty earned Newcastle a point as Manchester City were held to a draw at St James’ Park.
City defender Josko Gvardiol had put the visitors ahead after 35 minutes when he finished smartly from Jack Grealish’s lay-off.
However, while Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis combined well in covering for the influential Rodri, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, City eventually buckled during Newcastle’s best spell of the game just after the break.
When Bruno Guimaraes played an excellent pass through the City defence, Kyle Walker played Gordon onside and the England forward went down under Ederson’s challenge. Ederson was booked and Gordon kept his cool to send the Brazilian the wrong way from the spot.
Pep Guardiola’s side should have been further ahead at the break but Ilkay Gundogan fluffed his attempted chip after Newcastle keeper Nick Pope had presented a clearance straight to City when he was a long way out of his goal.
Both sides tried to force a winner, with Newcastle substitute Sean Longstaff going close for the hosts and Bernardo Silva testing Nick Pope deep in stoppage time.
The Magpies remain with only one win in 34 top-flight meetings with City, who have have now dropped four points in the space of a week after their 100% start to the campaign.
BBC
‘Who has Fubara made? ‘ Wike taunts Rivers gov
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that he is proud to have made an Ijaw man the governor of Rivers State.
Speaking on Saturday at an event organised by the Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress in his honour in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Wike said God used him to make Siminalayi Fubara the governor of the South-South state.
Wike also used the occasion to refute claims on social media that the Ijaw people in the state are fighting him.
He said, “Let me thank this team for this strategic meeting here today. First of all, when I was approached by Senator Johnson Nsakebor. He was sent by the Rivers Ijaw Congress that they want to honour me. I asked what the essence of such was. Why do you want to waste such money? I need the money. Give it to me. But he said so many people go on television and speak as if they were speaking on behalf of the Ijaw people. I said okay, I will come and let Nigerians know.
“This gathering here today is a message to those of them in Abuja who don’t understand. So if anybody tells you one day that the Ijaw people are fighting me. It is not correct. We have some ungrateful people everywhere. A father can have twelve children, and one can be an armed robber. Does that mean that the whole family are armed robbers?
“So, all these people going to television to say Ijaw people are fighting me. Ask them; all the Ijaw people in the House of Assembly were positioned.”
The former River governor asserted that nobody has the monopoly of causing violence, stressing that he and his camp have chosen to play according to the rule of law.
He added, “Who has Fubara made? All the things you see are people who are envious of our growth. They couldn’t do what we are doing today. These are people who we have defeated politically several times. If the opportunity comes again, we will defeat them again.
“I have made an Ijaw man governor of Rivers State. God used us. All of us here had sleepless nights. So who loves Ijaw more? Is it people who come out on television who can not even make their Ijaw brother governor? If they had been that powerful since the old Rivers State, would Ijaw have ever become governor? Where are they?
“I have told people that nobody has a monopoly on causing violence. The mere fact that we choose to play according to the rule of law. To be calm and not to turn ourselves into where investors would run away, and that is what we will continue to do.”
[Punch]
Segun Odegbami: Go get Samson Siasia, foreign coach or not!
Between October 11 and 15, 2024, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will take on the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in two legs of the qualifying matches for the 2025 AFCON. The matches will present an opportunity for the country to continue to build a new Super Eagles from the ashes of recent disasters with foreign coaches, as the country continues to search for a suitable permanent coach.
Meanwhile, Head of the Technical Department of the Nigeria Football Federation, Augustine Eguavoen, continues to hold forth in that position without commanding enough national confidence to make him the permanent coach of the team. It is imperative, therefore, that a decision on next manager for the team be addressed as quickly as possible. Testier times and more difficult matches lie ahead. The psychology of the country and the team needs reinforcement following unconvincing performances and results.
I have a simple ‘interim’ suggestion. The NFF should look in the direction of Samson Siasia again for reinforcement of the present equilibrium.
Why Samson Siasia?
Between 1993 and 1995 I played a role in the Nigeria Football Association as Head of the Technical Committee, and Team Manager (later changed to Welfare Officer) of the Super Eagles. I was an integral part of the national team when Clemens Westerhof was Technical Adviser (Manager).
I was in the heart of the team through the qualification and participation of Nigeria in the World Cup and in winning the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia in the same year, 1994.
It was not a big deal, but I lived with the team in their various camps, shared my ideas quietly with Clemens Westerhof and the NFA led by Air-Commodore Emeka Omeruah, and was directly in charge of the welfare of the players.
In short, I had more than a passing knowledge of all the players beyond their playing the game and doing so very well. It was part of my being and private work to look beyond the surface of things and what roles the players could play after their football careers.
I was particularly interested in those that could become coaches good enough to succeed Clemens Westerhof and ensure that Westerhof became the last foreign coach to handle the Super Eagles. A few of the players were approaching the end of their illustrious playing careers and were loaded with unique experiences that would serve them in good stead and elevate them above the ex-international players of the previous eras in the hierarchy of those deserving to become national coaches.
The Super Eagles were one of the best teams in the world and Nigeria’s most priced international image-maker to the extent that when USA President Bill Clinton visited the country after USA ’94 his first comment to airport correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed Airport was about Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Rashidi Yekini.
The Super Eagles were so revered that they featured on the cover of a special edition of Time magazine on the eve of the 1994 World Cup. The team was that big, and I am proud to claim a little but significant credit for the role I played as Team Manager in charge of players’ welfare between 1993 and 1995.
That experience provided me with a very unique insight into the individual players, enabling me to make academic deductions about their strengths and weaknesses.
The more I studied them the more I realized how important they all would be for the future of Nigerian football, particularly in the area of producing technical leadership and guidance for the national teams, and end the dependence on foreign coaches in Nigerian football. Nigeria had to produce qualified Nigerians drawn from the Class of 1994 with experiences at the broadest and highest levels. These would handle the various Nigerian national teams and take the country to the very top of global football.
The ‘revolution’ began with, Stephen Keshi, the ‘Big Boss’ , who, in 1995, was at the tail end of his playing career.
Clemens Westerhof was aware of Keshi’s outstanding qualities and always told anyone willing to listen. He believed Stephen Keshi was born to lead the Super Eagles as coach one day.
The great player went on to get his coaching licenses, became a coach, eventually became coach of the national team and, despite some ‘jaundiced’ opposition by some administrators and a small section of the media, Keshi fulfilled all expectations and achieved results with the Super Eagles that matched or surpassed the best by any foreign coach before and after him, till now.
Incidentally, Keshi was not alone in that group of players that had the qualities to handle the national teams and to halt the unprofitable practice of regular recourse to unknown and expensive foreign coaches that slowed down Nigeria’s progress in football on the field of play.
The players of the Class of 1994 had all the experiences – as players from the domestic leagues in Nigeria, to high profile teams and leagues in Europe, to winning the African Cup of Nations and qualifying for the World Cup for the first time.
I made these purely academic observations based on my own limited experiences as a player too under local and foreign coaches.
Clemens shared similar views about the players that could become successful national team coaches in the 1994 team with Onochie Anibeze of Vanguard newspaper.
Sunday Oliseh, Emmanuel Amuneke and Finidi Gèorge did not make his cut because they were relatively younger and reserved in camp, not showing enough of their true characteristics for anyone to have seen their potential as future coaches.
The first and most obvious was Stephen Keshi. His leadership characteristics transcended playing. He was a sure-bet to be a national coach. There was no disputing or halting his rise to the top.
Another player in that group that struck me (and my opinion was supported later by Onochie Anibeze and Clemens Westerhof) was Samson Siasia.
Samson was a silent operator, a player behind the scenes of major events, one who knew what he wanted and would always express it without being the centre of attraction and considered a rebel. He was influential in the team without being unduly loud. He was clever and very intelligent. I saw through all of that exterior, recognised his great potential as national coach, and wrote my views publicly.
Time and providence proved me right. Samson Siasia went into coaching and did not look back. He rose through the ranks from Club football to national Under-20 and Under-23 teams. His teams played in the finals of both global FIFA championships. He was ranked amongst the best young coaches in the world by FIFA after the performance of the Under-23 team at the Olympics finals against Argentina. He was drafted to work first as assistant to Augustine Eguavoen and finally on his own as Super Eagles coach for a short spell.
It is rather unfortunate that he suffered the ‘injustice’ of a suspension by FIFA for an offense it was claimed he was going to commit but never did. What is indisputable is that he is the most qualified, experienced and successful indigenous coach in Nigeria’s history.
Now, he has fully served his suspension in the past few months. What has he been up to since then?
I asked and learnt that rather than lament the ‘wasted’ 5 years of his life, or jumping into the fray of looking for a coaching job, he has moved to Europe to refresh his knowledge and coaching skills in preparation for coaching at the highest levels again.
Nigeria is still looking for a Nigerian that can lead the national team and save the country from the menace of expensive foreign coaches. However that search ends,
Samson Siasia should be drafted as a tag-team partner of Augustine Eguavoen in the present arrangement, to reinforce the team’s technical and psychological depth with his rich skills in preparation to be a part of any new Super Eagles arrangement at the top.
10 documents you must have when building in Lagos
If you are building in Lagos, to have a smooth construction process without any legal issues depends on having the necessary documents.
If you are building in Lagos, the building projects must be carefully planned, and you must ensure you comply with all applicable laws to have a smooth project without problems.
However, to have a smooth construction process without any legal issues depends on proper documentation for everything starting from establishing land ownership to obtaining various licenses and approvals.
Here are ten essential documents that you will need while starting a building project in Lagos
Survey Plan
A survey plan is necessary for building projects in Lagos to guarantee that the dimensions and borders of a plot of land adhere to the laws.
Get a qualified surveyor who would create a survey plan showing the landscape, borders, and existing structures of the site. The Survey Plan is often required when applying for a building permit.
Architectural Drawings (sealed, signed, and stamped by an ARCON-registered architect)
Another crucial document needed for construction in Lagos is an architectural drawing that is sealed, signed, and stamped by an architect registered with the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), which offers comprehensive plans and specifications of the proposed structure, including layout, measurements, and architectural elements.
These designs show that the building codes and regulations in Lagos are being followed, which is essential for getting building permits. It also acts as a construction blueprint, steering the project from start to finish and reducing expensive errors.
Tax Clearance Certificate
A Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC), certifies that all taxes have been paid or are in good standing. This shows that a person or entity has complied with their tax responsibilities to the government.
It is essential to the building process in Lagos because, without a valid Tax Clearance Certificate, builders may find it difficult to apply for permits and approvals.
Land Use Charge Receipt
This is an essential document in Lagos that indicates if a particular area or land is designated for residential, commercial, or industrial uses.
The receipt of the Land Use Charge is required before one can get a building permit and approvals. Building without the receipt will attract fines or project delays.
Proof of Ownership
To demonstrate that the applicant is the rightful owner of the land or property on which the building is planned, Proof of Ownership is an essential document. A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), a Deed of Assignment, or any other legal documents confirming the ownership rights are usually included.
To receive building licenses and clearances from the Lagos state government, one must possess a legitimate Proof of Ownership. Having this document avoids property rights conflicts by ensuring the government that the construction is occurring on legitimately owned land. In the absence of proper paperwork, builders can get a demolition order.
Structural Drawings
Structural drawings give critical information regarding the dimensions, materials, and construction procedures to be employed, ensuring that the building is safe, stable, and following Lagos building rules. They often comprise specifications for foundations, beams, columns, load-bearing walls, and other components.
Structural Stability Letter
A structural Stability Letter is provided by a certified structural engineer following extensive examinations
and studies of the building’s design, materials, and intended use is needed to confirm that Lagos building laws and standards are followed, with a focus on load distribution, foundation integrity, and material strength.
The Structural Stability Letter assures both regulatory authorities and the property owner that the building will be structurally sound and safe to occupy.
Structural Engineer’s Supervision Letter
The Structural Engineer’s Supervision Letter is a document that gives property owners peace of mind regarding the safety of the project and reassures regulatory authorities that a qualified professional will oversee the work.
Subsoil Investigation Report
The Subsoil Investigation Report, which is produced by certified geotechnical engineers, contains data on groundwater levels, soil types, and bearing capacities that are frequently acquired by laboratory testing and drilling.
This report is needed to direct the foundation design and construction approach by detecting potential concerns such as soil instability and groundwater issues.
Electrical Drawings
Electrical drawings are essential records that offer thorough layouts for a building’s electrical systems. To guarantee adherence to safety laws and standards, these drawings incorporate layouts for wiring, circuit configurations, lighting, and power distribution.
Mechanical Drawings
Mechanical drawings are the critical papers in construction projects that detail the mechanical systems of a building, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and other mechanical installations. These drawings provide specifications for equipment layout, pipe systems, and airflow designs, ensuring that all mechanical aspects work properly and safely.
Getting all of these documents sets one free from problems associated with building projects in Lagos State and also assures the builder that the building is of quality standard.