Business Day (Nigeria)

Leveraging global best practices in real estate ecosystem key to Investors’ Forum

- KELECHI EWUZIE JAMES KWEN, Abuja

Amid the economic challenges investors in real sector ecosystem go through, discussion­s around attracting net-work individual­s and entreprene­urs will take centre stage at the maiden edition of Prindex Properties Investors’ Forum.

The event holding today in Lagos will bring together high net-worth individual­s, entreprene­urs, profession­als and prospectiv­e real estate investors.

Tolu Bawa-allah, managing director, Prindex Properties, says the company’s portfolio is a mix of completed, ongoing and planned developmen­ts, adding that participan­ts at the investor forum will get a feel of the culture of value creation.

He opines that since inception in 2012, the Prindex Properties, establishe­d by Tolu Bawa-allah and Supo Jagun, has distinguis­hed itself with its commitment to profession­alism, innovation and transparen­cy.

According to Bawa-allah, “In a country where real estate developers­havebeenkn­owntocutco­rners to maximise profit, often leading to building collapses and failed investment­s, Prindex Properties promisespe­aceofmindb­yholding itself to the highest standards.”

Supo Jagun says, “As Architects and real estate profession­als, our projects are built in line within statutory, regulatory and safety guidelines. We also ensure that our spaces are functional and aesthetica­lly pleasing to the end user. We do not compromise on the quality of our finishing materials as we want our clients to have peace of mind.

“As a company that prides itself in being indigenous and transparen­t, the Investors Forum is designed to bring our clients and previous investors closer to the faces behind the brand.”

Bawa-allah notes, “We are not a faceless company; we are real people. Our team comprises of profession­als in the real estate industry; architects, engineers and surveyors. As developers, our competenci­es and experience over the years is what sets us apart. This is why we are able to deliver value clients and investors without compromisi­ng quality.”

He further explains that after several years of servicing clients with bespoke homes and building projects across Nigeria, they identified a gap in the residentia­l real estate space and decided to fill that gap. In his words: “We have expanded our scope beyond ‘constructi­on as a service’ to Real Estate developmen­t by completing other aspects of the value chain such. From 4 units of residences in 2014 to 23 in 2019, we are growing this number to 85 by 2021.”

Border Security: AFC to invest $450m for automation of Customs operations

The African Finance Corporatio­n (AFC) has expressed the readiness to invest $450 million in the automation of the operations of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) for its turnaround within 12 months.

Managing Director of Bionica Technologi­es W.A Limited, Umar Kuta, disclosed before the House of Representa­tives Joint Committees on Finance, Customs and Public Petitions Co-chaired by James Faleke, Yusuf Kila and Jerry Alagbaoso, respective­ly. The joint Committee is looking into the modernisat­ion of the Nigerian Customs projects.

Kuta assumed that the platform would improve revenue generation by the Nigerian Customs and enhance security at the nation’s borders.

According to him, “A complete automation of the activities of the NCS within 12 months will boost revenue and eliminate all forms of sharp practices in the system.”

Recall that the e-custom Strategic Plan, began in 2016, 94 companies responded to a bid request by the Nigerian Customs, fifteen companies were pre-qualified and all were invited to make presentati­ons on their solutions to enable Nigeria realise its vision of attaining complete automation and enthroning best practices in Customs operations.

The managing director said Bionica Technologi­es emerged tops after the evaluation process by Nigerian Customs.

According to the document made available to journalist­s after his meeting with the Committee, Kuta said that firm has five technical partners, namely Paramout Group, Huawei Technology, Smiths Detection, Larsen & Toubro Group and Nuctech of China.

The partners, he stated, are mobilising about $ 450 million in investment to attain the complete turn-around programme.

He told the Committee that the Africa Finance Corporatio­n, has also indicated its interest in supporting the Customs automation programme.

The company chief executive stated that the consortium is to partner Nigerian Custom Service by direct capital investment in collaborat­ion with Original Equipment Manufactur­es to develop and implement specific modernizat­ion programs, with full automation of all the NCS business processes and procedures through the developmen­t and implementa­tion of a robust and secured ICT platform.

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