₦airaland Forum

Says page is suspended. I'd like to talk to you about the Raft foundation for a project that i am working on. Would you be interested? Do you calculate both dead and live weights of materials used for the construction to determine your raft requirement. What about the soil itself? Are your calculations based on the typical sand-fill, and what factors do you use for various types of soils? Thanks in advance.

Topup:

I can understand that academia evokes thoughts and thinking processes. Since you are currently working on your post graduate course, you may be inspired to think outside of the box. This is a good thing, don't get me wrong. I infact encourage you to do this. However, there is a problem, and it needs to be resolved first. This is where the current focus should be in my estimation.

I moved out of Nigeria in 1980. This was about the time that Shagari became President of Nigeria. Since then, Nigeria has digressed and actually moved back in time while the rest of the world moves forward. My observation indicates that there may have been a concerted effort to destroy progress made in Southern Nigeria, which has been successful. Where are the Cocoa pyramids, and the Oil palms? Did you know that Nigerians were sent to Malaysia and Indonesia to train them on how to raise and Farm the Oil Palm?

In the case of planning, Lagos is my home state and My early years were all in Lagos. I can remember places like Takwa Bay that had beautiful blue waters and we used to beach our boats and sometimes stayed overnight in some of the huts (chalets) that we rented. Lagos was beautiful then, and many regular folks on Sundays laid out blankets along Marina to picnic while watching the beautiful display of lights from Ships. Security was not an issue, and we'd picnic until 10.00-11.oopm.

The Military created the 2nd destruction of Lagos methodically, and rumour has it that it was on purpose, because the North felt threatened by the quick progress and advancements that Lagos was making. I will refrain from getting into politics and resume my focus on the subject at hand.

Since as early as 1954, Lagos and Ibadan had been comprehensively mapped out by the U.S Army corp of Engineers. Were you aware that there used to be a Seaport (Airport) on the waters between Lekki and Ikorodu, where amphibious planes landed? Did you know that Lagos was a famous detination for European travelers to Africa for recreation, even more popular than Kenya? Did you know that Lagos had another Airport at Kirikiri and there used to be many international flight and plane shows there (Sponsored by Esso)? At these shows, did you know we could board the planes to inspect them and even paid to take 30 minutes flights on some planes? Did you know that the then USSR actually came after Festac '77, and setup a planetarium in Lagos for like 2 months, complete with replica Soyuz capsules and everything you needed to know about space? There was even a zero gravity chamber. This was also open to the public.

At the rate that Nigeria is going backwards, we should be glad with mimicking progressive Nations and playing catchup rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. We have the advantage of building upon time tested technologies which they have worked on already. Nigeria is yet to build any kind of "Wonder" and the closest that we had was the National theater for the Black and African Festival of Arts. It was a beautiful piece of art which involved the works of a great Nigerian Artist named Emokpae.

Infrastructure should be our focus which has restrained proper growth, and caused a lot of shack cities in Lagos. I believe that the British conspired to screw us up by imposing the "Plot system" on us rather than allowing us to think in terms of "Lots" as in America. Once a Nigerian sees a piece of property, they immediately think of how many 60'X120' plots they can squeeze out of it. This is a paradigm that is ridding us of green spaces within cities, and hence an unhealthy livestyle. Everything is a hustle and everyone is a hustler. Nigeria really needs a paradigm shift.

To address the issue that brought up this discussion, I will say that it is a travesty that the 3 Bridges connecting Lagos mainland to the Island are not Suspension bridges. The other day while driving across Carter Bridge, I noticed that it had been designed to allow the middle part to raise. It is also revealing when I remember that Eko Bridge actually has a Tower, and has long spans in the middle to allow potential. However, 3rd Mainland Bridge is an economic sabotage of Lagos, and I believe that it will need to be torn down to allow Marine Navigation in the future.

If Lagos Planners had any exposure and professional pride, they will have studied how cities/states with large bodies of water handled developments. The water itself is usually the economic foundation of these areas. The United States currently have learned lessons and have blasted down many dams, while creating fish ladders etc, at the remaining ones to minimize impacts on nature as well as navigation. The British have created water locks and extensive mechanisms to create more efficient water transits. I will post some transport data about the efficiency of barges as compared with other forms of transportation. There is no comparison at all. You will be shocked.

Lagos should have at least one suspension bridge linking the Island to the edge of Apapa. There should be one linking to Iganmu, and another linking to Ikorodu. The center part over the water crossing of 3rd mainland bridge should be destroyed, and a ramp built leading to a suspended part to allow for water navigation. Looking at Carter Bridge and Eko Bridge, I believe the original design allows for a retroactive installation of an active system to allow the center parts to be lifted for ships to navigate through. River Osun and River Ogun should be dredged to allow for low draft Barges to navigate them. Containers heading North and East should be automatically offloaded at the Ports into Barges destined for Ikorodu, Ijebu Igbo, or Abeoukuta via River Oshun and Ogun accordingly. These barges would include fuel barges as well. The Port at Ikorodu was built to allow this to happen until our Northern leaders decided and conspired to sabotage Lagos. Now Dangote controls it.

The Western world will never allow the amount of traffic issues that we see in Lagos continue for more than 2 years. They will realize that traffic jams in their cities amounts to failure in their planning. This oversight will be corrected in a manner of urgency, and immediately becomes priority. However, in Nigeria, we fail to understand the impact of lost man hours has on the economy due to traffic jams. Achievements that can be made in a day has to stretch to a week or more because of transportation problems. This has also affected the general paradigm of the people because they are now used to traffic causing goals to become unattainable. It is also a good excuse for inefficiency as people make up stories about traffic.

A good example of our backwardness is the proposed 10 lane highway to Badagry, from Iganmu. The process of constructing this will destroy both the Lagos/Isolo expressway, and the Ikorodu expressway as well. Mark my words. Do you know the logistics that it will take to move all the granite and other material that it will take to build this? Do you know how many truckloads it will require to get this job done? Do you know the amount of added traffic congestion that it will create? In any civilized nation it will be tantamount to madness to try to do this by road. Supplies are basically from Abeokuta, Ibadan, and Ijebu Ife. If things are properly planned, Ijebu Ife will terminate at a dock at Epe, Ibadan will terminate at a dock at Majidun or Ikorodu, and local traffic will be unaffected, except for the short runs from dumps along the Badagry water front. This is how logistics are planned in civilized Nations, and developments is never tantamount to making life hell for inhabitants. Lifetime Costs Cycle Analysis includes lost time caused by traffic to inhabitants.

I am lamenting here because of the frustration that I feel about knowing efficient and proper ways of doing things, but continuing to see the backwardness that we embrace in Nigeria while claiming to be pursuing progress. I wish and have tried to get to Governor Fashola just to advise him about potential pitfalls and more efficient systems and ways for planning. I have consistently studied Satellite imagery of Lagos extensively and now tend to believe that some of these expatriates are actually out to sabotage us and stifle our development. I sometimes wish to get a chance to Master plan an unspoilt area such as Calabar, or even Uyo because I believe that proper planning will jump start the economies of these areas and lessons learned from Lagos, will be used to avoid pitfalls.

I have learned to love Nigeria again in the past 4 years, and it kills me each day watching clueless people destroy it further by failing to plan for it's future. This is why my previous response may have been harsh, because at the moment Nigeria and Nigerians should forget about reinventing the wheel, but focus on exposures worldwide, and mimic what works best to get us started on the right track. We should be studying the true costs of Infrastructure plans over a time factor, instead of cheap immediate gratification that are more expensive on the long run.

I hope you don't feel offended by my previous remarks. It was only a venting of the frustration I am going through from feeling impotent about not being able to do anything in regards to mistakes being made in Nigeria. It even hurts me more when I see a Great Governor finally in my home state trying to do positive things, but not being able to be reached with advise that can enhance his goals. Most Nigerians with their so-called expatriate advisers are usually coming up with ideas that will fatten their pockets rather than the overall good of the community. I therefore apologize it you feel slighted by my previous remark.

And what is wrong wih being like the rest of the world? Criticism for the sake of criticism without careful thoughts reflects a desperate need for intellectual recognition. Have you even thought of the reasons for Suspension bridges? The unwise decisions by unqualified leadership and dumb so-called professionals are the direct causes of deprivation of the future enjoyment of generations to come.

Case in point; Osun River.

Dammed by Osun State. No Boat lift or fish jump. Flora and Fauna killed. Hardly releases water that replenished and refreshed Lekki Lagoon. The results observed so far: Amphibious and Marine destruction. Rare plants vanished. Heavy salination of Lekki Lagoon causing a biodiversity change and much more. Lagos  State should actually sue Osun State for diversion of natural resource. Rather than returning the flow levels to how it was before damming, they continue to divert it to newly created basins. United Nations Law does not permit any governmental body or person to divert or convert the use of a River like that. This is classic study material for students of planning and geology.

5. Too bad I had to reduce the pictures. You will have been able to zoom into the high res pictures that I have to see details.

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2. There are a lot more than these posts that I am making, including complete write-ups about the construction of them. If you will like me to email you some, send me email. You will be inspired.

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There are a lot of them built around Florida and I have studied some of them in Jacksonville. I am very shocked especially at the 3rd mainland bridge that effectively removed the possibility of Navigation by larger boats into Lekki Lagoon. I spoke to some authoritative figures in Cross Rivers not to make the same mistake.

There is a very interesting project that I recently read about in Europe. Not sure if it is completed yet. But it goes from a very long tunnel to a magnificent suspended bridge. It was also interesting reading about how they handled the logistics and the polymers and additives used for what was basically a hollow core bridge deck system. Technology is taking great leaps right now, and I think China is currently building the longest suspended bridge in the world. I'll come back and post some pictures if you will like.

mahal:
I may not totally agree with this argument, unfortunately CHANCEMAN case may easily be bought.
Plot sizes aquired by the average Nigerian is hardly enough to meet their needs / scope of Living space
It may sound unwise or silly to them to mark out a 6mx3m space just to accommodate a single car (This space could squeeze out 2 bedrooms) when it can easily be parked at any corner of compound and covered with a simple Shade or temporary timber or steel structure.

Plot sizes in Nigeria varies from the 100 x 50 ft , 60 x 120ft size to the 100 by 100ft and 200 x 100m, its obvious that a typical Nigerian
would find it silly to have only one residential house project in a 200ft by 200ft plot.

Garages are not common anymore in the country unlike covered car slots and Porches which could be termed to be "in vogue"
Well, just my opinion.

Sounds somewhat contradicting. If the Car can fit on the property and not parked curb-side, it can fit in a garage. God save us from overbuilding in Naija.

Did you get the job? And would you like to see some pics of suspended bridges?

Lagos has one in the works. But the one in the drawing is not possible though, it needs a crown.

lol@stagger. These guys will make a person lose credibility with his people if they are not properly vetted. They keep saying they want "oyel" but when you request substance to back it up, na story. These guys have had me in the past flying out to meet with them only to find out they a big frauds. Maybe they were even planning to kidnap me.

Arizona1:
We have these brand new trucks in our showroom in Lagos. They are neither UK nor Naija used but brand new.
N10.5m each.

Nothing is good like brand new especially when it comes to this kind of business. Your drivers cannot tell you story or give you reasons of vehicle break down.

Call . 08037937403

Lol@Chinese Truck brand new. I'll take a 5-8 year Mack over a China product though. What make are those N10m Brand new trucks?

Are they made in Nigeria by Nigerians or made in Nigeria by Chinese?

Get hooked up with a Colonel or General in the Nigerian Army or Navy. Omo-oniles will disappear fast.

Why do we do things backwards in Nigeria and follow trends of making things harder for the common man. The FCT Minister must have visited places like Paris and London, and found out that most of the workers commute. While the story is always true that Down-towns are generally more expensive than suburbs to find accommodation, the difference here is that commuting is not so difficult in these developed economies. If Abuja wants to have a Down-town feel, then they should first complete efficient infrastructure such as Rail-lines and Bus lanes to the suburbs.

damekadon:
1 plot of land going for 1.1 million USD? Person fit drill oil from this land abi na wetin go make 1 plot of land that price?

Na wah for naija. lol

In wishful thinking, you guys are jumping something posted by a person who has only made 11 posts. Do you think someone with the ability to purchase 50 acres would not approach Lagos State Government or the FTZ Development coy?

Price?

If you are serious, call me with proof of a Bank guarantee/finances to be able to make the purchase. Provide proof of Storage facility to take the product With that, business will be concluded. 0802.422.8548.

I still find it hard to imagine how Farida Waziri could stand a chance of regaining credibility in Nigeria. Even with this issue, there is a clear illegality of process being showcased. The only chance she stands is if she makes an about-face and begin to go after Politicians as well. Why is there so much silence about Aliero's claim to raise the costs of permits to build in Abuja with a statement he made claiming it is an effort to rid Abuja of touts? Do Touts build homes? Or is Abuja now only a place for the rich? How can anyone justify such a statement in a democracy that has enabled many otherwise non-competitors in the guise of Federal Character? These are questions that Nigerians should be asking.

Here is a Single Unit derivation from the Townhomes that can sit on a Single plot by itself.

@Jazzsoul:

It is not necessarily so with everyone in Nigeria, even though many people here tend to make general statements. There are many home with Garages especially in Abuja. Keep in mind that IBC code requires that Garages have a 2 hour firewall minimum between the main house and Garages. Even though people are generally ignorant of International Building Codes, they are however cognizant of the fact that we have a non-functioning Fire department. This may be the root cause of the dissociation with attached Garages.

I kept this in mind in seeking solutions for a Townhouse Project that I am developing and hence included detached garages for each unit. This allows for a fire separation zone from the main house. There are also other solutions as well such as 4 hour firewalls and/or smoke detector activated water sprinklers for attached Garages which I will recommend.

The society in Nigeria tends to act solely based on fear. Even if there is a no case of an Automobile fire in a house for 10 years, and then one happens, with the speed of spreading rumours, it will be a generally quick end to parking vehicles in Garages. I intend to build Garages for every home that I build in Nigeria. Included are some pictures of the Townhomes project.

http://www.architecturaldefinitions.com/gallery.htm

lol@MrCrackles

lol@thirdeye. People will always get what they pay for.

There had been speculations that the bank chiefs were unduly detained without trial because Aondoakaa was holding back the approval, which is a constitutional provision since the EFCC would have to prosecute in the name of the AGF.

A report quoting the commission's sources had claimed that EFCC Chairman Farida Waziri had written Aondoakaa since Wednesday, August 26 for the fiat.

But the AGF, who has been out of the country for about one week on official assignments to Brazil and the United Nations (UN), told THISDAY last night shortly after his arrival that his office got EFCC's letter last Friday and that the letter was dated same Friday, August 28, 2009.

- Source http://allafrica.com/stories/200908310001.html

Comment:

Why do we in Nigeria do things backwards. In better thinking countries, their prosecutorial system has pre-signed forms and assistant District Attorneys at the least to execute the papers for prosecution. There is no justification to continue detaining people because Andowonka is out of the country. This is the worst abuse of civil rights denying people of their freedom and ignoring constitutional standards that limits unprosecuted arrests to 48 hours.

When will our country choose to move forward and become progressive if we continue abusing civil rights. If these are infact the top echelon of Nigeria being illegally detained, who would stand a chance? Why has a judge not issued an arrest warrant for the EFCC Boss for contempt of court? Why is the law just a floor mat to be stepped on in Nigeria by people who mistake power for a throne to inflict abuse on the masses?

Nigeria, which way forward now?

I wonder how the thread Author's project went. Can we have some updates?

nolongTing:
Oh no  , even though I studied Banking at university I chose to go into software engineering instead - I prefer to write software thanks. My opinion after watching this: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4MtUELti0I  was:

I watched the whole interview and I liken his approach to that of a fighter who has just knocked out his opponent with fifty unanswered punches and then says "I hope my opponent is okay".  He said he’s aim is to clean up the Nigerian banking system, but to clean up what? Is it to prevent banks from taking unnecessary risks? To stop the provision of fraudulent loans? He’s whole affair is quite ambiguous in that he wants to create a more robust Nigerian banking system but at the same time he has brought about mass panic.

The effect of his actions is that his task will become much more difficult now because:
- He has destroyed confidence in the banking sector - domestically and internationally
- He wants to promote a robust banking system he has just labelled as reckless and fired 5 CEOs

It was funny how he complained about how Nigeria's credit rating had been down graded as if it was unfair - after he had caused all the chaos himself.  The truth is he should have advised the CEOs discreetly (without any media circus) that they should curb their risks and recover their loans ASAP - this would not have destroyed confidence in the banking sector.   Then he could have embarked on an international tour to promote and strengthen the image of Nigerian banking which has been built up over a decade.  Nigerian banks would have been seen as the African miracle we have all been waiting for but, you know the rest.

Some say that he’s intervention was timely because the banks were on the brink of collapse; but the fact is those with financial knowledge know that banks are a necessary evil.  Banks are the lifeblood of the economy - they are a special type of business that must be well managed and regulated and if they fail? They must be nationalized or taken over.  Bank execs will always be greedy because their shareholders demand that – Profit maximization; so we must get rid of this fantasy that Nigerian bankers should not be greedy, Bankers will always be greedy! That is capitalism, if the banks fail the government must cleanup and create the environment for the banks to rebuild.  For example in the UK a Bank called Northern Rock had debts of around $180 Billion! Right under the nose of the FSA (Regulator) The CEOs were called reckless and they resigned on a nice pension and the bank was nationalized.  The CEOs were not arrested like in Nigeria, they even got paid their Bonuses! But in Nigeria the government pumps in a paltry $2.6 Billion and sends the EFCC after all the executives, doors being busted, CEOs fleeing for their life – what a mess!

But to be fair to Lamido, he seems to have good intentions and a noble cause but its seems as if he’s over exuberance has caused immense short-term damage. 
My feeling is that his 'Rambo style', cleanup will make the Nigerian banking sector weak and vulnerable to controversial takeovers, can anybody see any good coming out of his actions?

Your summary was beautiful. You have eloquently put out my exact thoughts. Nigerians may be rightfully overzealous about seeing the excesses of Bankers in the midst of their poverty. But regardless of how we feel emotionally, we should tunnel focus on the impact of actions taken. What effect would it have on our overall economy and economic confidence? If we do not have an enabling environment to lure investors into the country, rather than give them an extra reason not to dabble with Nigeria, then we will have in effect shot ourselves in our own feet.

otokx:
Where will the shareholder groups get the money to start litigation?

From their back-pockets of course. Come on man, be creative. But if you pay me for consultation, maybe I can tell you other ways.

After all this hoopla, as usual Nigerians will go back about their business, and hat will be the end of the story. Why are the shareholders not marching and requesting clarification? Why have the shareholder groups not filed for restraining orders pending the outcome of an impartial hearing? Nigerians huff-n-puff, and blow nothing down. Business goes on as usual and they get schemed and milked dry.