Ethiopia criticizes Trump over comment on disputed dam
Ethiopia criticizes Trump over comment on disputed dam
Ethiopia has interpreted Friday comment by the United States President, Donald Trump, on the disputed Ethiopian as belligerent threat and affront.
The US president said Egypt will ‘blow up’ the Ethiopian dam if an agreement is not reached over operation and water flow. In a tweet, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn said Trump’s comments were reckless and irresponsible.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed did not specifically reference Trump in a statement released by his office on Saturday, but said “occasional statements of belligerent threats to have Ethiopia succumb to unfair terms still abound”.
“These threats and affronts to Ethiopian sovereignty are misguided, unproductive, and clear violations of international law,” Abiy said. “Ethiopia will not cave in to aggressions of any kind, nor do we give recognition to a right that is based on colonial treaties.”
Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew summoned US ambassador Michael Raynor to clarify Trump’s comments. On Friday, Trump called for a resolution to the standoff over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam during a phone call with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
He warned: “They [Egypt] will end up blowing up the dam.” “And I said it and I say it loud and clear … they’ll blow up that dam. And they have to do something,” he said during the call, which came as both leaders announced that Sudan would begin to normalise relations with Israel.
Trump had told the State Department earlier this year to suspend millions of dollars in aid to Ethiopia because of the dam dispute, angering Ethiopians who had accused Washington of being biased in its earlier efforts to broker a deal on the project with Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia walked away from those talks.
“They will never see that money unless they adhere to that agreement,” Trump said on Friday.
Egypt, for its part, has repeatedly said it wants to settle the dispute through diplomacy, but has also said it would use “all available means” to defend the interests of its people. Abiy’s office has said there has been significant progress made in resolving the dispute since the African Union took over negotiations, the most recent round of which broke down in August.
“The man doesn’t have a clue on what he is talking about,” he wrote.
Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have been deadlocked in the dispute over the filling and operation of the dam for years. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been a subject of an ongoing dispute between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Adis Ababa hailed the completion of the first phase of the dam in August as a national triumph that will help to lift citizens out of poverty by making it a major power exporter.
Cairo has said it is dependent on the Nile for more than 90 percent of its scarce freshwater supplies, and fears decreases in water flow caused by the dam could have a devastating effect on its economy.
Khartoum, meanwhile, stands to benefit from the project through access to cheap electricity and reduced flooding, but it has also raised fears over the dam’s operation, which could endanger its smaller dams, depending on the amount of water discharged downstream daily.
Cairo and Khartoum are seeking a legally binding deal that would guarantee the appropriate flows of water. William Davison, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that Trump’s comment were “pretty outrageous” and suggest that he is “not really in touch with the reality on the ground”.
“The idea of conflict to solve this dispute over the Nile has always been very far-fetched and ultimately hugely counter-productive – it could lead to some sort of regional conflagration,” he said.
Timothy Kaldas, a non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, told Al Jazeera that – despite Trump’s comments – Egypt is unlikely to take military action over the dispute.
“It’s unclear exactly what [Trump’s] motivation is. I think part of it actually is vanity – I think he is pretty annoyed that the Ethiopians withdrew from the talks unilaterally, and refused to show up to Washington for what was meant to be the last round of talks,” Kaldas said.
“I don’t think that there is a serious risk that Egypt is going to proceed with any sort of military action on the dam. They’ve made it pretty clear that that’s not what their priority is.”
Authorities call-off official engagements as protests continue to be violent
Nigeria: Authorities call-off engagements as violent protests persist
Official engagements involving senior Government personnel had to be called off on Wednesday following spiralling violent protests across Nigeria.
On Tuesday night, reports say military personnel opened fire on unarmed protesters in Lagos.
A high-profile government functionary who spoke to Discover Africa News on Wednesday said: “The country is not in a good mood. A number of government facilities are being razed down in Lagos. Prominent individuals attacked. How can we continue as though nothing is happening”, he said.
Nigeria’s anti-police protesters have stayed on the streets in Lagos, breaking a government curfew after a night of chaotic violence and reports of demonstrators being shot dead.
Shots were fired as youngsters set up barricades by the Lekki toll plaza in Lagos, where protesters were fired upon on Tuesday night, causing injuries and an unknown number of deaths.
There were reports of gunfire across Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city of 14 million, including on the highway to the airport, at a major bus station and outside the offices of a television station.
Smoke could be seen billowing from several points in central Lagos.
Demonstrations and gunfire were also reported in several other Nigerian cities, including the capital city, Abuja.
Nigerians are reeling from video on Tuesday night at the Lekki toll plaza in which protesters could be heard singing the national anthem in the darkness.
Shots can be heard followed by sounds of people running away.
It is not clear who was firing the shots heard in the video but Nigeria’s security forces have been blamed for at least 10 deaths during the protests by Amnesty International, which has accused the police and military of using excessive force against the demonstrators.
There have also been widespread reports of youthful protesters being attacked by armed gangs, who the demonstrators say were sent by the police to break up the protests.
Lagos governor’s confirmed more than 20 injuries from the Lekki shootings but said no-one had been killed.
He said he went to hospitals and mortuaries throughout the city.
Speaking in a televised address, Obajide Sanwo-Olu said he has ordered an investigation into the actions of the military at Lekki plaza, an indication that the army may be responsible.
“For clarity, it is imperative to explain that no sitting governor controls the rules of engagement of the military,” he said.
“I have nonetheless instructed an investigation into the orders and the adopted rules of engagement employed by the officers and men of the Nigerian army that were deployed to the Lekki tollgate last night.
“This is with a view to taking this up with a higher command of the military and to seek the intervention of Mr President in his capacity as a commander in chief to unravel the sequence of events that happened yesterday night.”
He tweeted on Wednesday: “This is the toughest night of our lives as forces beyond our direct control have moved to make dark notes in our history, but we will face it and come out stronger.
“I’ve just concluded visits to hospitals with victims of this unfortunate shooting incident at Lekki.”
He had earlier warned on Twitter that the protests against police brutality had “degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society”.
President Muhammadu Buhari has remained silent on the protests and violence sweeping across the country.
Before the shootings at Lekki, Nigeria’s police statement warned security forces would now “exercise the full powers of the law to prevent any further attempt on lives and property of citizens”.
The curfew in Lagos began on Tuesday afternoon and most businesses and shops are closed across the city.
The curfew was announced after a police station was burned down in the city and two people were shot dead by police.
Lagos has been at the centre of the protests, with demonstrators at times blocking access to the airport and barricading roads leading to the country’s main ports.
A curfew also went into effect in Benin City after a pair of attacks on correctional facilities that left 1,993 inmates missing.
Interior Ministry spokesman Mohammed Manga said large, armed crowds had attacked the two prisons, subduing the guards on duty.
It is unclear what the prisons’ exact populations had been before the attack.
The protests began two weeks ago after a video circulated showing a man being beaten, apparently by police officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, known as SARS.
5.4 million voters decide fate of 13 million Guineans today: Conde and Diallo
5.4 million voters decide fate of 13 million Guineans today
Guinea has a population of 13 million people. But only 5.4 million out of the are registered voters and are eligible to decide the country’s presidential election already underway.
Incumbent and a two-term president, Alpha Condé, 82, is seeking a third term. His strongest challenger is a 68-year old former Prime Minister, Cellou Dalein Diallo. He lost to Mr Condé in both 2010 and 2015, although he says both elections were marred by widespread fraud.
The day started with heavy rain but as soon as it stopped, long lines started forming in front of polling stations.
Mr Condé ignored critics to push for a change of constitution that allowed him to extend his stay in office.
There are already fears that the Guinean military may get involved. The country has been beset by authoritarian and military rule since independence. There have been some fears that the army might be getting involved in politics again.
On Friday, the minister of defence issued a statement saying that a group of soldiers had entered a military camp in Kindia, a city 130km (80 miles) east of the capital Conakry, and killed its commander, Col Mamady Condé.
Some reports spoke of an army mutiny, but the authorities later said they were in control and that a search was under way to find the soldiers.
Ethnic clashes during the campaign have raised fears of nationwide violence if the results are disputed.
The government has closed the borders with some neighbouring countries, citing security reasons. Results are not expected for several days.
Candidates need more than 50% of the vote for outright victory, or there will be a second round on 24 November.
Ten other candidates are also running, while some opposition groups have called for a boycott.
Mr Condé was a veteran opposition leader who finally won elections in 2010, marking the first genuinely democratic handover in Guinea since independence.
He served jail time for challenging General Lansana Conté, who ruled from 1984 to his death in 2008.
He has campaigned on his economic record and prospects that Simandou, one of the world’s largest untapped iron-ore deposits, might finally be exploited – creating thousands of jobs.
But critics say that any economic growth has not filtered down to the bulk of the population. Power cuts are common and many young Guineans are unable to find work.
A new constitution was approved in a referendum in March. Mr Condé argues this means he is allowed to seek re-election, even though he had already served the maximum of two terms allowed under the previous constitution.
The opposition disputes this and street protests have led to dozens of deaths over the past year.
Who is his main challenger? Cellou Dalein Diallo, 68, a former prime minister, is the only formidable opponent. He lost to Mr Condé in both 2010 and 2015, although he says both elections were marred by widespread fraud.
He is a member of the Peul, or Fulani, community. Although they are Guinea’s largest ethnic group, the country has never had a Peul president and many ethnic Peuls say they have faced discrimination, dating back to the days of President Sékou Touré, when thousands fled the country.
Mr Condé is largely backed by members of his Malinké community, as well as the country’s third major ethnic group, the Soussous.
Mr Diallo and other opposition figures in the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC) had vowed to boycott an election which they felt could never be fair.
But in early September, Mr Diallo broke with the FNDC, announcing that he would run after all.
NIGERIA: Will proscription of SARS end Police Brutality in degenerate society?
NIGERIA: Will proscription of SARS end Police Brutality in degenerate society?
On Sunday, following a huge outcry by members of the public particularly the youth and celebrities, the Nigerian Government banned the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS), a mutation of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). For some two years, SARS has been in the news for bad reasons. The section of the Nigerian Police Force could kill at a snap of finger. Where they obtain their powers to kill recklessly, one does not know. But there is hardly a Nigerian who has not seen or heard or experienced SARS. Some two years ago, after accumulated reports of killings and maiming suspected criminals, the public outcry mounted. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was acted for President Muhammadu Buhari at that time changed the name of the Squad from SARS to F-SARS. Bu the change in name was just like a giving a criminal a baptismal name. The mode of operation of the SARS did not changed. If anything, it became worse.
Recently, anger rose again when these men killed a young man in Warri, Delta State. Finally, Police boss, IGP M.A Adamu announced the banning of FSARS and Tactical Squads from Patrols. However, people have rightly voiced their misgiving about the ban. How effective will this be? The entire police force is due for reform and restructuring. So, ordinary pronouncement of ban would not solve the problem of crass brutality by the men in uniform in a decadent society like Nigeria where the rights of the citizen are brazenly jeopardised and the citizen would have no place to run to—not to the court or church or mosque or politician or civil servant. In Nigeria, once you are jeopardised, you are jeopardised and there is nothing you can do about it.
The Police statement on the ban read: The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect. In addition, no personnel of the Force is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti. They must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear. The IGP’s directives come against the backdrop of findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads hide under these guises to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads. Specifically, the IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices. They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises. The IGP notes that the FSARS and other Police Tactical Squads remain a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country. He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads. He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road. They are to ensure prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force. The IGP has equally warned that henceforth, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and the FCT as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR). He therefore charged them to ensure effective supervision and mentoring of the personnel of the Tactical Squads under their jurisdiction. Meanwhile, two operatives of the FSARS and their civilian accomplice operating in Lagos State, INSPR Sale James, INSPR Monday Uchiola and Okechukwu Ogbonna, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for acts of professional misconduct including extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens. The operational vehicle of the men has also been impounded and disciplinary procedure has already commenced against the defaulters. The IGP reaffirms his commitment to bequeathing to Nigerians, a reformed Police Force that is accountable, responsible and ever ready to defend and uphold the rights of the citizens while discharging its duties of keeping the people safe and secure. He enjoins the citizens not to allow the misconduct by a few personnel of the Force to negatively impact on their belief, confidence and trust in the Police. DCP FRANK MBA FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FORCE HEADQUARTERS ABUJA
While the public may take a deep breath, at least on the surface of it, that an official announcement of the SARS ban has been made, the people who are half-hearted about the end of SARS menace on the Nigerian roads are right. The ban of SARS should start from a thorough reform of the entire Police system. If that is not done, it will remain a circus, the trigger-happy personnel will keep mutating from nomenclature to the other while their mode of operation would not change.
Kings Uba is a Senior Writer with Discover Africa News
World leaders pay tribute as Nigeria marks 60 Years Post Independence from Britain
World leaders pay tribute as Nigeria marks 60 Years Post Independence
Today, Nigeria, touted the giant of Africa marks 60 years of her independence from its former colonial master, the Great Britain. On this day in 1960, Africa’s most populous nation declared its independence from British colonial rule.
Though signed with mixed-feelings, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, in an early morning broadcast said Nigeria had done greatly in the last 60 years and called on all Nigerians to pool their efforts together to keep Nigeria united. A number of protests against the government hve been sheduled today in parts of Nigeria including that of a seperatist organisation, the Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
Among world leaders who have sent felicitations to Nigeria is the Queen of England, Elizabeth II who congratulated President Buhari in a message conveyed by the British High Commission in Nigeria.
The message read, “It gives me great pleasure to offer my warmest congratulations on the 60th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence, together with my best wishes for your country’s continued happiness and prosperity.
“The United Kingdom and Nigeria benefit from strong and enduring ties as Commonwealth partners through shared history and most importantly, our people. These are bonds that I hope and believe will flourish long into the future.”
Google also celebrates Nigeria’s Independence Day with a Doodle and brief eulogy. “Over the years, Independence Day has been an opportunity for Nigerians to showcase their rich and varied culture, from suya (spicy meat skewer) and jollof rice (one-pot tomato rice) to juju music and afrobeats. The artwork in today’s Doodle is a nod to Nigeria’s coat of arms— specifically the eagle which represents strength. The primary colors of the Doodle are the same as Nigeria’s national colors: green signifying the country’s agricultural wealth and white a marker for unity and peace”
Graft Inquiry: Zuma accuses Zondo of Bias, Wants him Replaced
Graft Inquiry: Zuma accuses Zondo of Bias, wants him Replaced
South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has requested the head of a commission investigating corruption during his presidency to step aside over alleged “bias”, his lawyers said.
Mr Zuma has failed to re-appear before the commission as has been requested.
Allegations of corruption dogged Mr Zuma’s presidency and led him to resign in February 2018.
The former president’s lawyer has said that he would not take part until Mr Zondo is replaced.
In a letter to the commission, Eric Mabuza said: “We are instructed to seek your recusal as chairperson of the commission on the ground that our client reasonably apprehends that you have already adopted a biased disposition towards him.”
He said that Mr Zondo was no longer capable of “exercising an independent and impartial mind”.
‘State capture’
“President Zuma has always expressed his willingness to cooperate with the commission. This is in spite of his reservations about the legality of the commission and in particular, your suitability as chairperson, given your personal relations with him”.
The inquiry, known as the Zondo Commission, was established to investigate the “state capture” scandal during Mr Zuma’s tenure as president.
This centred around allegations about an Indian business family, the Guptas, who won lucrative contracts with state companies.
The family has also been accused of trying to influence political decisions, including the naming of ministers.
The Guptas have said that there were no cases to answer and that they were in the process of clearing their name “in the face of unfounded media allegations.
Gains of ECOWAS intervention as Mali gets interim president today
Following successful intervention by regional leaders led by former Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Mali’s new president will be sworn into office on Friday, five weeks after the overthrow of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.
Bah Ndaw, a former defence minister, was picked by the coup leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, to head a transitional government until elections are held.
Col Goita will be his vice-president.
The new government is expected to be in office for a transition period of 18 months that will lead to an election.
The appointment of a civilian president was a condition for the West African regional group, Ecowas, to lift the sanctions it imposed after the coup.
Stocks of goods are running low in the capital, Bamako, where businesses are hoping for an announcement from Ecowas after the inauguration
Congo: Perspective Change on Africa’s problem child, By Jessica Stang
Every time I take an Uber, the first topic of small talk is what my roots are. The reactions that I am half German and half Congolese differ greatly between Europe and Africa. Typically, when I mention the DR Congo in Berlin, I get the following response: a compassionate look and the thought of civil war, child soldiers and Ebola. In Johannesburg, on the other hand, the first associations are of beautiful nature and a country rich in mineral resources such as gold, diamonds and coltan.
These reactions, which could hardly be more different, reflect well the current situation in the DRC: a country with great potential, but also with great challenges. One of the biggest problems is the lack of infrastructure. According to the World Bank, just under 20 percent of the population in the DRC currently has access to electricity. This inadequate infrastructure is also a major focus of Congolese politics. Acting President Félix Tshisekedi tackled this major problem during his election campaign and promised the population that new roads would be built. This election promise even gave him the nickname “Béton” (concrete) and gave the population great hope that much will change. Because it is not complicated quantum physics: infrastructure is the basis of a functioning economy, be it power supply, road construction, education, or digital networking. All this is essential to get the economy going. But how do you manage to build a country both as diverse but also complicated as the DRC , sustainably and effectively?
It almost seems like a vicious cycle: many international companies are deterred from investing in the DRC because of the uncertain situation. However, such investments are inevitable necessary in order to reinforce the infrastructure and thus stabilize the economy. It is therefore important that steps are now being taken by German politicians to include the private sector, in particular, and also to support it in making investments. For instance, Compact with Africa (CwA) is an interesting way for the G20 states to make various African countries more attractive on the international market. Initiated under the German G20 presidency, CwA aims to promote private investment in Africa, including in the infrastructure sector. Even though the DRC is not (yet) a member state, it is a right step to break the vicious cycle aforementioned, which many other African economies are also experiencing. During his visit to Berlin, President Tshisekedi made the case for the DRC as a business location and called for greater investments in the DRC.
A first step towards the manifestation of German-Congolese economic relations is the construction of the Inga III Dam on the Congo River. The German government, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Africa Commissioner Günter Nooke, wants to use German technology to combine Congolese energy supply and climate protection. The aim is to reuse the surplus hydrogen in Europe in order to achieve German climate targets. Nevertheless, in such international projects it is important to consider new approaches and turn away from classical development aid, to involve the private sector of all participating countries more strongly. For there is a fine line between economic promotion and market distortion or further dependence on Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us here in Europe how important a stable economy is to survive crises, but also international cooperation.
I look forward to the future results of the Inga III Dam. It is an interesting approach to strengthen German-Congolese economic relations and to integrate the German private sector into the Congolese market. It is highly hoped that this project will benefit both Germany and the DRC and that a sustainable partnership on equal terms can be developed from it.
With projects like these, I hope that the view of the Congo will change here in Germany as well. Hopefully, first association with the DRC will then be positive, even as far as in German Ubers. Undoubtedly, the DRC is a country with infinite wealth and great potential.
Ban Ki-moon joins AfDB’s Adesina, IMF’s Georgieva for GCA launch on Wednesday
Ki-moon joins AfDB’s Adesina, IMF’s Georgieva for GCA launch on Wednesday
The 8th United Nation’s Secretary General and Chairman of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) Ban Kin-Moon, will join African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) President Akinwumi Adesina, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and African leaders from across the continent for the launch of GCA Africa on Wednesday, 16 September 2020 at 12.00 GMT.
The launch is going to take place online.
GCA Africa, hosted at the African Development Bank headquarters in Abidjan, will work closely with its partners from all sectors to align initiatives with global programs, coordinate projects across the continent, and deliver accelerated action for communities affected by climate change across Africa.
With headquarters in the Netherlands and regional offices in China and Bangladesh, the GCA acts as a solutions broker to accelerate, innovate and scale adaptation action for a climate-resilient world. It is co-chaired by Ban Ki-moon and Feike Sijbesma, Honorary Chairman of Royal DSM. African Development Bank President Adesina and Kristalina Georgieva both serve as members of the Board.
The launch event will be followed by a Partnership Forum – an open dialogue with stakeholders from across the continent to advance Africa’s adaptation priority actions and to discuss how GCA Africa can support and ensure better coordination for greater impact.
Confirmed speakers include:
· Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation and 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations
· Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations
· Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon and Chair of the African Adaptation Initiative
· Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank
· Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
· Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation
· Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission
Saadiya Aminu talks about Urban Shelter to International Audience
Saadiya Aminu talks about Urban Shelter to International Audience
Urban Shelter Limited (USL) is redefining the real estate sector with a culture dedicated to service, finding opportunities and creating value. USL, a property development company, with headquarter in Abuja, Nigeria, has 3 decades of experience in property development and management. The company is driven to make itself a household name in the country and Africa as a whole.
Urban Shelter has to its advantage an immense reserve of resources, both financial and human capacity, which gives the company the ability to deliver projects effectively. USL has developed and managed properties for individuals, corporate organizations, state and federal government establishments, while strategically consolidating its activities across Nigeria, Ghana, UAE and the entire West African sub-region.
The company has delivered cutting edge and competitive real estate solutions to its valued clients at competitive prices.
Urban Shelter Limited was founded by a visionary leader – Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu, a man of impeccable values and of the highest professional ethics. Over a career spanning five decades (both in public and private sectors) he effortlessly combines his strong family values with intuitive business acumen to lead the company that is renowned for its integrity and credibility.
Currently, the company is being led by Saadiya Aminu, as the Managing Director/CEO. She started her career in Development Finance. Urban Shelter continues to witness remarkable growth under her management.
Saadiya has garnered vast experience in real estate and investment over a 20yr period. Her background in Economics, coupled with a unique ability to anticipate business trends, has put her in the position she is as not only the head of one of the largest real estate companies in Nigeria and Africa, but also one of the most successful business women around.
Saadiya Aminu talks about Urban Shelter to International Audience
In an exclusive interview with the PLEASURES Magazine team, Saadiya Aminu gave an extensive breakdown of the company operations, from its strategies and plans to its offers.
She said: “Our passion is people and projects. As such our clientele includes Nigerians across every income category from corporate bodies to private individuals; cooperative societies to institutions. Our primary objective is providing real estate solutions and change the Nigerian skyline one project at a time”.
She stated that the major distinguishing factor of the Urban Shelter model from others was a broad spectrum of services that cover various segments of the real estate market which include residential (affordable, intermediate & high-end), commercial (offices), retail (shopping malls, markets) and specialty projects (hotels, leisure etc).
“Urban Shelter has continued to grow both in sophistication of its projects and geographically through growth of new markets.”
The company’s growth geographically has extended to Kaduna State, Lagos State and Niger State while we have planned projects for Kano State, Enugu State and Abia State. “In 2020, despite a difficult business environment, we launched The Waterfront by Urban Shelter along Jabi Lake. This is a speciality project, which once completed will provide a recreational destination for Abuja families; and The Hills high-end residential project in Guzape”.
Urban Shelter is currently on several potentially high-yield projects to add to its impressive portfolio. “We are currently operating on 7 sites in Abuja with a combination of retail and residential projects including BellaVue Residences Lifecamp, Urban Shelter Residences Dawaki, Promeande Estate Lokogoma, Urban Shelter Estate Kyami, Sarauniya Estate Lugbe, Apo Urban Market and Brick City Valley Kubwa.
In Lagos we are active on two sites: Urban Shelter Estate, Ajah and Urban Shelter Living, Victoria Island, Lagos. While in Kaduna we are developing the second phase of Urban Shelter Millennium City, a 16-hectare project and have also launched in partnership with Kaduna State Government in the development of Kassuwar Barci. A Further two projects in Niger State are also under development.”
The company has a portfolio of over $1.1billion in terminal values of works in progress, and combined assets under management.
She averred that the company is people and project-oriented, committed to delivering consistently superior quality projects to clients at the end of the day.
“For more than 30 years, we have helped Nigerians rediscover the dream of homeownership, the aspiration of turning a house into a home. We have built houses, so our clients can transform them into welcoming homes and safe havens in secured locations. We are proud to say for many Nigerians, Urban Shelter has turned their dreams into a reality.”
“Our strategic focus continues to be centred on building exceptional properties in some of Nigeria’s most desirable locations (residential, retail and commercial) Each Urban Shelter development exemplifies our company’s commitment to the highest standards supported by market awareness, driven by passion and governed by integrity.
We are delighted to announce our several commercial developments that will come on board in 2021. These include the development of UTC, Garki Abuja; Shelter Tower (15 floor office development) in the heart of Central Business District Abuja; and Guzape Mall, a retail development”.
Because Urban Shelter is passionate about getting people into homes, we have made it our singular goal to evolve affordable homes without compromising on aesthetics, design or quality, thus, achieving homes that put the client at its very centre. It’s a segment of the market that we have built expertise in which our signature use of the burnt red bricks we are able to produces homes at competitive rates.
Saadiya emphasized the social advantages of home ownership that lead to better productivity of individuals and in turn lead to a more productive economy.
According to her, “Owning a home leads to better health, better output and productivity. Providing access to water, sanitation and other physical and social infrastructure are our main priorities in all our estates. On financial benefits, home ownership provides the opportunity for individuals to unluck several financial resources such as access to loans that could be used to fund your dreams. During our interaction with clients we identified there was great reluctance for the average Nigerian to access mortgages, most would prefer to save over a long period of time and wait to own a home.
We took cognizance of this and developed different financial options for our clients to help them get onto to the property ladder. These include extended five – year payment plans, pay and stay options; referrals to preferred Primary Mortgages Institutions partners. In 2019, we signed an agreement with Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company to refinance clients with existing mortgages.”
On COVID-19, she lauded the efforts of frontline medical officials fighting the pandemic.
During the lockdown, the management of Urban Shelter prioritized the health and lives of its employees and their families. It has continued to do so by adhering to all the safety guidelines put in place by the NCDC and putting Health & Safety at the core of daily activities.
“While very challenging, the lockdown period has helped the team to focus on pre-development function of project management. This involves – design optimization work, finalising Bill of Quantities, developing artwork, 3Ds and marketing materials as well as evolving research and development. So, with the three months of lockdown, we were able to do more of the planning phase and we are ready to hit the ground running by the time the lockdown was lifted”.
The economy, the business climate and how we interact both socially and professionally – things are changing sequel to the global pandemic. For instance, though most of our building materials are sourced internally, foreign import of building materials for the high-end building has been challenging, but we envisioned these pitfalls and we are currently working our way through them.”
She explained that Urban Shelter currently has a 5-year payment plan for middle-income earners and extended payment plans for different demographics.
“The Building Services, R&D team of our company, have developed N5,000,000 ($10,000) homes that have all the requisite infrastructure, which we are market in Abuja. Last year the Urban Shelter team took its exhibitions to London UK, Italy, and Houston US, to directly reach out to Nigerians in the diaspora looking to invest in real estate at home. There are several stories of individuals who have been conned by relatives and strangers while trying to invest in properties, so Urban Shelter offers a more credible way to invest in real estate and ensure quality for your resources.
“We are also evaluating collaboration with Nigerian banks that function in the diaspora to make remittances easier. Investments in real estate in Nigeria give a higher return than most countries currently”.
“It is important to also address better gender balance and as such we have reviewed trends so women can invest, and we help facilitate that process for everyone. She added that women are very entrepreneurial and should be giving the level playing ground to invest into real estate. Patterns of investment tell more that women invest in commercial and retail projects than residential properties. These nuanced issues are what Urban Shelter looks at, to ensure they are doing the best they can for each unique client,’’ she said.
On sustainability and conservation, we believe minimum carbon footprint is vital in how we operate. By putting nature and conservation at the heart of how we operate, we approach the design of each project with a view to conserving the greenery. We have come across trees that are hundreds of years old and redesigned entire projects, so we protect them.
Our Corporate Social Responsibility projects include remodelling sub-standard schools to help in upgrading their facilities; Sickle Cell Awareness; Give Girls A Chance; WRAPA and numerous others.
As a woman in this position, Saadiya Aminu acknowledges that there are challenges she faced which include not having a background in architecture or engineering.
She stressed that being humble to learn and growing through the ranks, gave her an opportunity to learn under renowned mentors and earned her the position which she now sits on, incompetence backed by knowledge and experience.
“A woman in a leadership position today is not so novel and less of something people are surprised by,” she said, adding that she also thanked the Urban Shelter team who has been supportive and has maintained a sense of camaraderie through all situations.
“Thankfully, I was raised by parents who never adhered to preconceived gender roles, so they gave me exceptional access to education and an opportunity to work and excel in my career”, she said while also lauding her husband who she described as a champion and support to her through all her career endeavours.
As a woman in a leadership position, Saadiya acknowledged the inputs of her male mentors, Dr. Mansur Muhtar and Dr. Abraham Nwankwo who pushed her to be more in her career path.
To aspiring women leaders, she said, “I think women should start and not wait for a perfect condition, and while at it they shouldn’t be afraid of being mentored by men.”
“Envision where you want to be, plan it, prepare for it, pray on it, follow through with it and even when the plan fails, start again. You may fail 1,000 times; you only need to succeed once. God will put people in your life, resources and opportunities that will take you to where you are supposed to be – but you need to be brave enough, so have courage,” she added.
Urban Shelter is part of larger group of companies with interest in Power, Hospitality and Manufacturing including – Shelter Suites & Hotels Ltd, North South Power, Shelter Clay Ltd and Urban Abode.
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