The Act entrusts all land in urban area of each state, to the State Governor, while land in rural area is vested in the Local government within their area of jurisdiction (this excludes land vested in the Federal Government).

This Act was meant to standardize land administration in the Country.

Registration of property to get a valid title to land in Nigeria is evidenced through:

Certificate of Occupancy (C of O):

The Land Use Act changed the structure of land ownership in Nigeria. Afterwards land was no longer held in freeholds and property buyers were only entitled to leasehold interest. This interest is expressed in customary or statutory Rights of Occupancy.

The Local Government grants Customary rights, while the State Government grants statutory rights of occupancy to any person in respect of land, whether or not in an urban area. A Certificates of Occupancy (“C of O”) is issued as evidence of rights.

Nigerian Certificate of Occupancy        “C of O”

The right of occupancy is for a fixed period with maximum of 99 years, usually granted for residential purposes. While the period granted for commercial applications may vary from 35 to 70 years.

The relevant governing ministry issued a “C of O” to people who applied with titles prior to the Act. These people are regarded as  ‘deemed grantees’ of Rights of Occupancy.

Governor’s Consent (Registered Deed of Assignment):

Any subsequent transactions after the issuance of the C of O in respect of land (which is the subject of the Right of Occupancy), must be with the consent of the Governor of the State where the land is situate. A Deed of Assignment in and by itself is not a perfect transfer of title.

The Act states that any transaction affecting title to land, e.g. assignment, mortgage, sublease, must first obtain the Consent of the Governor of the concerned State. The transfer is not void, it is merely “inchoate”, until the consent of the Governor is obtained after which it can be said to be complete and fully effective.

Some Real Estate terminologies to take note of:

Some Real Estate Terminologies

Deed of Sublease:

This implies that there is a head lease (that is a document creating the direct relationship between the lessor and lessee) meaning, the sub-lessor is a tenant of the head lessor. This has very different legal implications and obligations from a deed of assignment

Land Certificate:

This is the registered and legal certificate for title to land in Nigeria before the enactment of Land Use Decree of 1978.

Global Certificate of Occupancy:

This usually refers to a Certificate of Occupancy. Over a large expanse of land or an estate with different property owners/ landlords or block of apartment.

Excision:

The government releasing land previously acquired back to the indigenous people of a community is called excision. It is not a title document to land.

Government Gazette:

A gazette is an official publication or legal notice from the Government for the purpose of notifying the public of actions and decisions of the government. Notices such as Land acquisition, disposal and transfers of property, leases granted, etc can be found in a gazette. The Government land acquisition/release are detailed and recorded in the gazette.

Registered Conveyance:

Its usage and application vary. Typically, a deed is a conveyance. That is a document used to transfer title to land in Nigeria, such as Land certificates, registered deed of assignment, etc. are sometimes referred to as registered conveyances.

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Real estate simply means the buying or leasing of properties that are residential or commercial. Properties like Flats, terrace apartments, detached houses,maisonettes, Condos, warehouses, office buildings, shopping malls, parking lots to name a few.

Why invest in Nigerian Real Estate you ask? Here are 7 reasons why people invest in real estate;

1. Increase ROI                                                                                                                                                                Some people invest in property to enable them earn returns on their investment. Committing funds for asset, which will yield profits. This is usually long term.
2. Prestige                                                                                                                                                                    In this situation investment is for social recognition and status quo as landowners. The motive here is social respect and admiration. 
3. Cash flow                                                                                                                                                                  Here, is investment as a means of generating constant income. The process being to buy a property and to lease/rent it out. The rental income can be monthly, biannual or yearly.
   

   Why invest in Nigerian real estate you ask?

4. Speculative Purpose                                                                                                                                                The motive for investment here is speculative, the investor buys properties with the hopes of reselling it at a higher price in the near future, this is different from flipping. The investor makes a forecast on the price of a particular property market based on area growth, economic or predictions and purchases to wait for the predicted price projection.
5. Portfolio diversification                                                                                                                                        This is more a strategy of investment in real estate. Here the investor spreads their investment risks across several sectors to diversify investment portfolio. This investor has investments in other non- real estate sectors.

6. Capital Appreciation

   Also called property flipping, this type of investor buys properties in fast developing area or distressed properties. The investor usually works to increase the value of the property (building on it, refurbishing it), and sells it when the value appreciates.

7. Inflation Hedge

   This motive is to bridge the effect of inflation on a capital/fund. By using the effect of time on the value of money. Such as increased rent and capital appreciation of a property. 

Do you want to know more? Then contact us on any of our social media platforms or via email info@fieldcolimited.com with your question and any other topic you want use to discuss.

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An accessible Extinguisher

So the first step and the most important is to have a fire escape plan. A plan you will rehearse with your family or neighbors at least two times in a year. How and what do you practice? You practice your escape; go down on your stomach and forearm to where there is more oxygen and crawl out. You can practice this with your eyes closed, knowing that electricity may be out and it may be dark, practice till you know the route blind folded. You should also note the exit and entrance doors on your property. Make it a fun game to spot the second exit once you are in a new building, giving you an alternative for you in case the main door is blocked.

The second is an old scout motto BE PREPARED. No one is hoping you experience a fire, but as you hope for the best, you should also expect the worst, so be prepared to escape at all times. Always be prepared for a house fire and confirm that your fire alarms, fire extinguishers,and smoke detectors work. A plus is to have an adjustable ladder in case your escape is to be from a window or the roof.

Finally step 3 make safety a habit, you can prevent house fires by taking simple safety precautions. Simply educating those around you especially children. Always turning off your gas when you leave the kitchen. Keep highly flammable items outside the house (gas, gasoline, firewood others). Use lighters as opposed to match sticks. Avoid candles and exposed flames like fireworks inside the house.

3 STEPS TO PREVENTING HOUSE FIRE

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4 Safety Tips to driving in the rainy season

Headlights: Headlights help light up the road and make the road more visible to you and other drivers, so when driving in the rain it’s advised that you utilize them. Most Toyota cars (popular in Nigeria) have fog lights, for more visibility, it’s more difficult to spot a car coming in the opposite direction when they do not use their lights. 

Hydroplaning: Hydroplaning occurs when you drive on wet roads and high speed.. You must ensure not to make sudden motion because you might lose control of your car . It is very important you drive slowly and avoid speeding when there is heavy downpour and don’t drive close to other cars so you won’t have to stop suddenly. 

Windscreen: First of all ensure cracks and damages on your windscreen are fixed immediately. Then ensure your wiper is functioning well and replace old wipers which are sold in traffic all over lagos. They help free your windscreen from clogs and blurring moist. These two steps alone and now you can see 5 times clearer even in a heavy downpour. 

Be alert: Always look out for large vehicles such as trucks and trailers while driving because they lose control during heavy rainstorm and most drivers find it very difficult driving under such wet weather. Always keep some distance from big vehicles on the road at all times when driving to avoid accidents.

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How do we begin

Let us start with the living room, it is usually the first place your guests walk into, and can come off as disorganized or messy if there are excess amounts of items. Here are steps to making your living room look put together and sophisticated. 

• Organize the coffee table
• Declutter your entertainment center
• Organize your bookshelf
• Pick up unused accessories

The bedroom is the second most important area in the home and a perfect way to start getting it organised, is by removing the piles of clothes in it and cleaning out the closets. Here are also steps to making your bedroom clutter free;

• Declutter the wardrobe
• Install hooks on the back of the door
• Install Corner Shelves
• Add in storage pieces as needed

After the bedroom, for those with children their room is yet another major clutter zone. In three steps you can declutter their room, first

• Go through the kids’ toys with them
• Divide room into sections
• Purchase storage boxes

Now the bathroom, let’s face it— you haven’t used some products in your cabinet in months, dispose of them.

• Pull all items out of the bathroom
• Install Wall-Mounted holders
• Wash or discard rugs and towels

Take a few minutes out of your day to organize and declutter the final room in your home, the kitchen.

• Reduce pots, pans and Tupperware
• Tackle the “junk” drawer
• Clean out the fridge
• Eliminate excess decorations

You are now an expert in organizing each room in your home, from tackling your living room mess to removing unnecessary items from your kitchen or cleaning out your bathroom.

A Decluttered Home

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Safe water is any safely managed drinking water service that is free from contamination, available when needed and accessible on premises. In 2010, the United Nations recognized;

“the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and for all human rights.”

Today billions of people are still living without safe water struggling to survive and thrive. Access to water underpins public health and is, therefore, a critical element for sustainable development.

world water day

Some Key Facts

• 2.1 billion People live without safe water in their homes.
• 1 in 4 primary schools globally have no drinking water services.
• Over 700 children under five years of age die every day from diarrhoea linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation.
• Around 158 million people collect their drinking water from surface water, such as ponds and streams.
• Around 4 billion people – nearly two-thirds of the world’s population experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year.
• By the year 2020, up to 700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense water scarcity.

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Your home, whether it’s a room in a group home, an apartment, or a house, should be comfortable and safe

A home is a place to relax, play and enjoy spending time with family. However, the home is also the most common place for young children to be injured if safety is not taken seriously.

Certainly, accidents will happen from time to time, and there will be minor scrapes and bruises along the way, especially as kids grow and discover new things. And that’s OK. The problem is the more serious injuries that are often completely preventable. Your home, whether it’s a room in a group home, an apartment, or a house, should be a comfortable and safe environment

Identifying common household hazards is part of raising children in a loving, safe environment. Parents can protect children and reduce the odds of unintentional injury by staying aware of major hazards such as:

1. Furniture Tip-Overs

Kids like to climb on your lap, the furniture and anything. Research shows one child dies every three weeks in a TV tip-over incident. Protect little ones by anchoring shelving units and television sets.

2. Button Batteries

More than seven kids are treated every day after swallowing button batteries. When lodged in the oesophagus, these little silver-coloured batteries cause tissue burns that can be fatal.  Common items button batteries are found in Wrist Watches, Car remote, Thermometer, Calculator, Remote, Kitchen Scales, Hearing aids, Musical card etc. Look in your home for items that may contain button batteries — electronic devices, key fobs or greeting cards. Whenever possible, select batteries sold in child-resistant safety packaging.

3. Drowning

Almost 30 percent of home-drowning incidents occur when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub. To ensure the safety of your kids, never leave kids unattended around water. Drowning can happen in seconds and in just one inch of water. Know what to do in an emergency. By learning first aid or CPR, you could save a life.

4. Driveway Safety

Young children are particularly at risk (especially under six years of age) because:

• They can be impossible to see from inside a car, especially if they are immediately behind it.
• They can move quickly and are unpredictable.
• The rear and side vision from many cars has a large ‘blind spot’ which can easily obscure a child (in some cars this can be more than 15 meters)
• Even if a car has parking sensors or a reversing camera fitted, children may not be noticed until it is too late to stop.

During the school holiday period disruptions to the usual family routines (for example, visitors coming to visit your home) can increase children’s exposure and the risk of a driveway run-over occurring. The basic message, especially for parents of children under six, is always make sure you know where your children are before you reverse out of a driveway.

5. Door and stove barriers

Use a door barrier or a safety gate to keep a young child out of the kitchen, particularly at busy times such as when dinner is being prepared. A safety gate or barrier will allow children to play safely in an adjacent room, and enable you to see what’s happening on the other side.

Door barriers are also an important safety feature for both the top and bottom of stairs. You can buy barriers to fit doorways or open spaces of various sizes.

One of the most dangerous parts of the house is the kitchen. Injuries relating to the stove and oven can be very serious. A stove guard fitted around the hot plates can protect children from serious scald or burn injury caused when pots and pans are pulled down on top of them. Stove knob covers can be purchased to make it difficult for a child to turn a stove or oven on. Alternatively, you may be able to remove the knobs altogether.

Others:

• Safety tap caps – are designed to prevent children from turning on a hot tap (which results in household hot water burns) and can be easily installed without the assistance of a plumber or handyman.
• Keep laundry packets and cleaning supplies up and away
• Give young children your full and undivided attention when they are in the bathtub or around water.
• Check smoke alarm batteries every six months to make sure they are working.
• Keep cribs clear of objects, and make sure babies sleep alone, on their back, and in a crib every time they sleep.
• Install window guards or window stops to keep children from falling out of windows.
• Keep all medicine up and away, even medicine you take every day. Be alert to medicine stored in other locations, like pills in purses, vitamins on counters, and medicine on nightstands.

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Sources:

Common Hazards that children at risk

Child Safety

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Do you know there are volatile organic compounds in the air of your home due to the presence of furniture, upholstery, and the use of cleaning products on the floor and surfaces? Exposure to these compounds could lead to symptoms such as a headache, vomiting, drowsiness, liver and kidney damage, swelling of the lungs, coma etc This is not to make you panic but to enlighten.

The use of houseplants.

Plants have been known to purify the air. It is one of their many superpowers. They can absorb a lot of these compounds that are present in the air.

1. Golden Palm: The Golden Palm is the most effective at removing this compound from your indoor air. The Golden Palm features feathery, arching fronds. It removes formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from the air.
2. Aloe Vera: Most of us know the Aloe Vera as a miracle skin saver. It’s been known to heal minor wounds eight days faster than regular dressing. But did you know it’s also a major air cleaner? In addition to its place in your beauty regimen, Aloe Vera removes benzene and formaldehyde from the air.

3. Dwarf Date Palm
The Date Palm Dwarf is a popular ornamental indoor plant grown for its beautiful feather leaves. They grow well in Nigeria’s tropical climate and make easy gardening for the novice gardener. They are easy to plant and care for. The Date Palm Dwarf removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air.4. Bamboo Palm
The bamboo palm is a very popular house plant which has 3 different kinds, is all easy to grow indoors or in containers: The dwarf, the bamboo, and the hardy bamboo. All are members of the Chamaedorea branch of the palm family along with the parlor palm, cat palm, and metallic palm. Its leaf display will vary from a finer feather looking to a broader across leaf depending on where it is native.

5. Areca Palm
The areca palm, also called the yellow butterfly palm, bamboo palm and golden cane palm is one of the easiest palm trees to grow indoors. It’s relatively disease-free and topped a NASA study of the 10 best air purifying plants. This palm tree, with its long, graceful feather-shaped fronds, will add a tropical feel to your home and is especially well suited for screened patios and atriums.

These plants are easy to care for and low maintenance.

We remain your trusted Partner, Creating Value.

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Do you know that the best way to maintain electrical appliances is to perform regular routine maintenance on them?

This is very important because it extends the working lifecycle, improve the performance of the appliances and promote energy efficiency.

A well-maintained electrical appliance works more efficiently, in turn, reducing your utility bills. Further to the benefits already mentioned, proper care of your electrical appliances keeps you and your family safe from accidents.The following are ways to perform routine maintenance on your appliances.

Portable appliance test (PAT): This applies to all electrical appliances and it involves the use of a simple electrical multimeter to check the earthing (grounding) continuity and resistance of the appliance. The resistance is most efficient at 0.4Ω but must be less than 1Ω. The exercise also involves visual inspection of the cable, plug and installation to ascertain their credibility. It helps reduce power consumption, safety risk to the user and electrical damage to the appliances.

The best way to maintain electrical appliances

Ovens: This could be cooking, microwave, toaster etc., oven usage and operations are characterized by food splatters and spills over time.  An oven must be cleaned regularly because charred food and built-up grease accumulate in the oven and convert it into carbon. First, spray your oven fully with water and pour a layer of baking soda paste. Leave it for an hour and then wipe up the paste with a cloth and you will find a shiny and clean oven.

The best way to maintain electrical appliances

Washing machine: decalcify it and change the filter: To ensure your washing machine smell fresh and run optimally, you need to clean it regularly. The inner surface of a machine builds up lime scale caused by hard water. To descale your washing machine, regular cleaning is required. The first step is to run an empty hot water cycle. You can add baking soda to it and then finish the cycle. You can also repeat these steps with white vinegar.

washing machine

Refrigerator: Regular maintenance of the refrigerator is required to ensure that the refrigerator smells good and increase the life cycle of the refrigerator. This process involves defrosting of the refrigerator, avoid the use of electrical appliance to defrost. Once the ice is dissolved, clean the freezer with a towel or sponge to soak up the defrosted water. Make sure that water does not seep into the temperature selector, drain hole and channel while cleaning.

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As a real estate company providing facility management services, the above question is one we hear a lot. Not only have we answered this, we have also gone ahead to answer how you can reduce your energy  charge.

In Nigeria,the lack of constant supply of power is one of the  major cause of a high energy charge. In the absence of power supply, the facility managers have to rely on Diesel or Petrol which is a more expensive alternative.

Nonetheless, you can still reduce your energy charge by observing the following:

1. Using Air Conditioner:

• Have your appliances serviced and put into efficient operating condition.
• Turn off appliance when not in use.
• If you desire a constant cool temperature, you should use a programmable timer and thermostat control. ( Each 1^oC reduction of the thermostat will save about 10% on your energy usage)
• Retain heat or cool air inside your home by using fabric window coverings instead of using the more fashionable shades or blinds. Use a liner for extra weather protection in raining season and as a light cover in dry season.

• Choose the right equipment – strike the right balance between budget and effectiveness.

2. When using other equipment/appliance

• When acquiring new appliances for the house, it is advisable to buy appliances with a good energy rating (i.e. total wattage output). This has a major impact on energy consumption at home.
• Use energy saver bulb, though more expensive than high wattage bulbs, it lasts longer and saves you cost on energy consumption.
• Choose energy-efficient refrigerator: Refrigerator is working non-stop and the energy it consumes adds up quickly.
• Regulate your Heat Water Usage: A continuous working water heater consumes a lot of energy which is not ideal. When you operate your water heater efficiently by regulating thermostat, it reduces energy usage as soon as the water heater cut-off while you can still continue to enjoying hot water in your bathroom until the water temperature reduces.
• Unplug electric appliances and components when they’re not in use, as they draw power and increase your bill even when not operating.

Our property management team at Fieldco Limited can help you effectively by keeping track of maintenance requests and ensure you stay efficient.

#Fieldcolimited #Retailfacilitiesmanagement

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