Architecture: A noble profession

I spoke with a close friend of mine today and I concur that I should do something to showcase my Profession i.e. Architecture. Architecture is a specialised profession that essentially deals with putting  order in the built environment and ensure their is order in the process of providing shelter for humanity.
Thus if the environment is in a state of chaos, then blame the Architect. An Architect cannot afford to make a mistake for example in the provision of a multi storeyed housing for the people by not providing adequate number of staircases for escape in times of emergencies like fire. It would be a mega disaster, thus the need to engage a competent architect especially for complex projects.
The Architects role is not only to provide a beautiful building, but to produce a functional design that is structurally sound, affordable and aesthetic.
We shall be showcasing some projects that I have been involved in as an Architect in the recent past.
Stay tuned.....

NEWS FLASH: OIL MARKETERS IN NIGERIA CALL OF STRIKE: TO RESUME TRANSPORTATION AND LIFTING OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS TODAY

The oil marketers today met with officials of the Federal Government and the senate to broker peace on the cause of the petroleum and diesel scarcity in Nigeria. The meeting ended on a positive note with the marketers agreeing to call off the strike and commence lifting of PMS and diesel immediately. The agreement that was reached was endorsed by the Finance Minister , Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and it was resolved that the license of any marketer who refuses to to comply as directed should be revoked by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Lagos- Ibadan Expressway blocked!

Ifeanyi Ubah's Capital oil and gas today began selling fuel to their customers sequel to the promise made by its owner, Mr Ifeanyi Ubah to sell 13 million liters of fuel to the public. Lagos-Ibadan expressway was this morning completely blocked due to vehicles purchasing fuel at its petrol station along that route at Ojodu Berger.

HOW PATIENCE JONATHAN RULED RIVERS STATE

The Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, on Sunday said his disagreement with President Goodluck Jonathan, was due in part to Mrs. Jonathan’s meddlesomeness.

He said this after the premiere of a documentary on the Amaechi years, at the Silver Bird Galleria, Abuja.

According to him, the President and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, would have taken him to the cleaners, if they had found anything incriminating against him.

Amaechi said, “We had a disagreement in principle between me and the President. Have you seen a country where the Commissioner of Police is reporting to the wife of the President? It’s in Rivers State.

“Have you seen a country where the Brigade Commander or the Navy Commander or Air force Commander is reporting to the Wife of the President? It’s in Rivers State.”

He explained that he was convinced that such conduct would not help in the development of any nation and he took a stand against it.

Amaechi stressed that Nigeria must never again go back to such dark days, stressing that public officers should learn to lead by the rule so as to avoid abuse of office by their spouses.

He pointed out that it was the husband who was elected. The governor revealed that in his own case, he ensured that his wife knew her limits and he always told her she had no right to call any of his commissioners for anything, because the people voted him into office as governor not her.

Amaechi challenged anyone who had doubts about his performance in office to go to Rivers State and see for himself.

He also said all he did in the state were not for self-glorification but were done to bequeath a legacy for successive administrations in the state to sustain but added that 90 per cent of the people who worked with him betrayed him.

He further showcased his achievements spanning all sectors of the state economy, wondering why the Federal Government was desperate about casting his administration in bad light even when he spent N105bn on federal roads.

He also pointed out that he kept a proper account of his stewardship and the books were open for all to see. This, he said, gave him the courage to sustain the struggle, expressing joy that history will vindicate him in the end.

In the documentary which featured some of his projects in the areas of security, agriculture, education, transportation, health and social development, Amaechi’s said the documentary left out some projects he would love to see documented.

GTBANK PLC CLOSES BY 1PM TODAY DUE TO FUEL CRISIS

As Nigerians continue to lament over the ongoing scarcity of fuel with no solution in sight, Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, has announced that its branches across the country will close at 1pm beginning from today.

The bank, however, regretted every inconvenience the development might cost its customers across the country.

GtBank made this disclosure via its twitter handle thus:” Our branches will close at 1pm from tomorrow. Apologies for the inconvenience. Pls tell someone and RT”.

NIGERIA AT A CROSSROAD

Nigeria really has become the laughing stock of the world press, below is a news report from a foreign news agency on the current situation in Nigeria:

LAGOS (AFP) - Nigeria's opposition on Sunday accused outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan of leaving a country in crisis, as fuel shortages brought the nation to a standstill just days from Muhammadu Buhari's inauguration.

Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) highlighted record lows in electricity production, multiple strikes and billions of dollars in unpaid debts, suggesting Jonathan's government was deliberately leaving the country in a mess.

"Never in the history of our country has any government handed over to another a more distressed country," APC spokesman Lai Mohammed said in an emailed statement.

"No electricity, no fuel, workers are on strike, billions are owed to state and federal workers, $60 billion (is) owed in national debt and the economy is virtually grounded," he added.

Buhari won Nigeria's first-ever opposition victory in March 28 elections and is set to take over as head of state of Africa's most populous nation, leading economy and top oil producer this Friday.

But as he does so, a weeks-long crisis over controversial fuel subsidies has left homes without electricity, cars without petrol and businesses virtually ground to a halt.

- Businesses hit -

Telecoms firms, whose base stations and switches rely on generators for power because of poor to non-existent grid supply, say they may not be able to maintain their networks for much longer without fresh fuel stocks.

MTN Nigeria, the country's biggest mobile operator with more than 55 million subscribers, said on Saturday it needed a "significant quantity of diesel in the very near future to prevent a shutdown of services across Nigeria".

Airtel Nigeria said on Sunday it was also facing a similar situation.

In aviation, domestic services were grounded and planes on international routes forced to divert to pick up aviation fuel.

At least three Nigerian radio stations have gone off the air to ration fuel that powers its generators. Some schools have brought forward half-term holidays.

One user on Twitter posted a sign from his church saying it had merged Yoruba-language and English services because of the shortages.

"Don't bother to bring your (phone) charger to church, we have disconnected all the plugs," read the note, which was signed: "Yours in Christ."

OPEC-member Nigeria produces some two million 

barrels of oil per day but has no functioning refineries and is forced to import crude products such as petrol and diesel.

The government keeps fuel at below market price at the pumps, paying the difference to importers in a system the government says is riddled with corruption.

Fuel importers and marketers claim they are owed 200 billion naira ($1 billion, 910 million euros) in outstanding subsidies and have shut depots pending full payment of the arrears.

Petrol tanker drivers and oil and gas workers are also on strike.

The government, which relies on oil revenue for 90 percent of its foreign earnings but has been squeezed by the global slump in crude prices, says just 1,327 megawatts of power is currently being produced.

The APC, which has vowed to tackle rampant corruption and insecurity, attacked Jonathan and the PDP for keeping silent on the crisis.

"The outgoing administration has shown neither the capacity nor the willingness to resolve any of the crises it has contrived and foisted on the nation," it said.

It added: "This is the most vivid manifestation of the old saying that literally translates to a departing office holder defecating on the chair he is vacating."

- 'Good luck and goodbye' -

Jonathan was pictured on Twitter on Sunday attending his last church service as president.

His spokesman, Reuben Abati, wrote: "Thank you, Nigeria. Good luck & Goodbye." PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh hit out at Buhari for not attending and suggested the opposition was trying to tarnish the outgoing government's image.

"We find it curious and more than a coincidence that the nation is experiencing an acute shortage of fuel and electricity supply at this point in time, when such has not been the case under the current PDP-led administration," he added.

"We ask, are there some forces sabotaging the system to create an impression that the APC is inheriting poor infrastructure and complete system breakdown?"

Attend the ICT EXHIBITION AT THE EKO HOTEL AND SUITES.

The Lagos chamber invites all to the ICT exhibition taking place at EKO HOTEL AND SUITES from 25th to 27th May 2015. Visit www.lagoschamber.com for further details.