The Relevance and Application of ICT in Estate Surveying and Valuation in Ogun State

Estate Surveying and Valuation is one of the professions in the built environment that requires the use and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the various areas of its practice. Such ICT devices and applications include computers, networks, hardware, software, satellite and so on. This paper sets to examine the extent to which Estate Surveyors and Valuers apply ICT in performing their professional tasks so as to assess its contribution to their practice. A 5-point Likert scale structured questionnaire was administered to Estate Surveyors and Valuers both in the public and private practice in Ogun State. Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to analyse the data obtained from the survey. The study shows that the estate surveyors and valuers are aware of the existence of the various ICT applications and devices but have not been using them effectively to promote their practice. They however, ascribed their inability to use it to poor level of training. The study concluded that there is need for improvement in the curriculum of various educational and professional institutions involved in the training of Estate Management Students across the country. Regular intraining on the use of ICT applications and devices was also suggested as a means of improving the ICT knowledge of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers

Challenges of the Urban Sector in Nigeria: The Way Forward

The study ascertains the enormity of research works on the `challenges of the urban sector in Nigeria over the years with a view to identifying grey areas where urgent steps need to be taken as a panacea towards improving environmental standards within the urban setting. The study relied on extensive review of earlier studies on the urban sector across the globe. The study found that contemporary strategies adopted to provide appropriate and affordable housing, portable water supply, energy, transportation, security, sewage disposal, drainages for the urban populace are fairly similar revolving around the establishment of national and city-based housing policies and targets and the creation of specialized agencies to handle urban housing tasks.  The study concludes that while there are a few signs of progress, the enormity of efforts of governments, at all levels, to address the myriad of challenges of the urban dwellers in Nigeria is simply overwhelming. Key words: urban sector, challenges, Way forward, Nigeri

An Appraisal of the Relationship between Road Improvements and Immediate Neighbourhood Residential Properties Values in Metropolitan Lagos

This study is aimed at analysing the relationship between road improvement and neighborhood properties values in selected parts of Lagos. The purpose is to determine the contribution of roads improvement to neighborhood properties rental/capital values. Structured questionnaires were administered on some purposely selected 200 landlords and tenants living in residential buildings in the neighborhood of the roads under study and out of the selected 200 landlords and tenants, 153 respondents duly completed and returned their questionnaires, all of which were found useful for the study. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. The study reveals that there existed one form of road improvements or another in the study areas in the past five years. Road improvements were identified as a factor contributing to increase in rental/capital values. Accessibility was recognised as a factor that determines what people want to pay for a particular location. Majority of the respondents were found to be ready to pay higher rent as a result of road improvements. The study also shows that there was a significant relationship between road improvements and neighborhood properties values in the study areas. The study recommends that the three tiers of governments should take the the issues of construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of roads as a matter of priority because these processes enhance property values and indirectly increase revenue accruable from property as tax to government coffers

Detection of rotavirus VP7 gene in helmeted guinea fowls and Japanese quails in Ogun state, Nigeria

Rotaviruses classified into groups A through H are important etiological agents of gastroenteritis in man and animal. In Nigeria vaccination of infants has continuously been carried out, however the disease is still a burden to the nation which remains one of the countries with the highest cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis. There are several evidence of interspecies cross transmission and reassortment among group A rotaviruses. However, few studies have focused on rotavirus in the avian species, thus the virus has only been reported in chickens from southwest Nigeria. Guinea fowls (Numidea meleagris) and Japanese quails (Coturnix corturnix japonica) serve as source of income to the rural house-hold where they are raised in backyards. A total of 100 fecal samples from Guinea fowls (50) and Japanese quails (50) from different locations in Ogun state were collected and analyzed using group A specific RT-PCR. Fecal samples were screened for rotavirus using VP7 primers. The virus was detected in pooled diarrheic fecal samples of both Guinea fowls and Japanese quails and also in non-diarrheic feces of Guinea fowls. Due to the close proximity at which different breeds of birds are raised in backyard poultry in Nigeria and the reassortment ability of the virus, there will continuously be an increase in the diversity of the virus. This is not leaving out a zoonotic transmission with subsequent contribution to vaccine failure in man. It is thus important to continually survey for the virus in man and animal. This study provides the first report of rotavirus in helmeted Guinea fowls and Japanese quails in Nigeria.Keywords: Guinea fowl, Japanese quail, Feces, Detection, Rotavirus, VP7 gen

Challenges of the Urban Sector in Nigeria: The Way Forward

The study ascertains the enormity of research works on the `challenges of the urban sector in Nigeria over the years with a view to identifying grey areas where urgent steps need to be taken as a panacea towards improving environmental standards within the urban setting. The study relied on extensive review of earlier studies on the urban sector across the globe. The study found that contemporary strategies adopted to provide appropriate and affordable housing, portable water supply, energy, transportation, security, sewage disposal, drainages for the urban populace are fairly similar revolving around the establishment of national and city-based housing policies and targets and the creation of specialized agencies to handle urban housing tasks. The study concludes that while there are a few signs of progress, the enormity of efforts of governments, at all levels, to address the myriad of challenges of the urban dwellers in Nigeria is simply overwhelming

An Appraisal of the Relationship between Road Improvements and Immediate Neighbourhood Residential Properties Values in Metropolitan Lagos

This study is aimed at analysing the relationship between road improvement and neighborhood properties values in selected parts of Lagos. The purpose is to determine the contribution of roads improvement to neighborhood properties rental/capital values. Structured questionnaires were administered on some purposely selected 200 landlords and tenants living in residential buildings in the neighborhood of the roads under study and out of the selected 200 landlords and tenants, 153 respondents duly completed and returned their questionnaires, all of which were found useful for the study. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. The study reveals that there existed one form of road improvements or another in the study areas in the past five years. Road improvements were identified as a factor contributing to increase in rental/capital values. Accessibility was recognised as a factor that determines what people want to pay for a particular location. Majority of the respondents were found to be ready to pay higher rent as a result of road improvements. The study also shows that there was a significant relationship between road improvements and neighborhood properties values in the study areas. The study recommends that the three tiers of governments should take the the issues of construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of roads as a matter of priority because these processes enhance property values and indirectly increase revenue accruable from property as tax to government coffers

Price Determination for Residential Properties in Lagos State, Nigeria: The Principal-Agent Dilemma

Arbitrary house pricing by property owners based on existing or expected economic situation partly explain the glut and proliferation of vacant properties in the housing market awash with demand for same. This study takes a look at the process and strategy of house pricing, the factors considered in determining housing price and the factors that prolong listing period in the residential property market. Primary and secondary data were gathered for the study. Primary data was collected with structured close-ended questionnaires administered to three groups of respondents, property owners, professional property managers and real estate developers in Lagos State. A total of 240 questionnaires were administered to senior management staff of these organizations and another 113 to property owners accessed through the estate agents involved in this survey. Secondary data was also obtained from existing journal articles, online resources, dailies and books. Data from the questionnaire survey was collated and analysed with the aides of descriptive tools such as percentages, 5-point likert scales and ranking. Findings showed amongst others that house prices in the residential property market are largely fixed and reserved by the sellers. It was also found that these sellers do not consider many of the determinants of housing price. Moreover, the doldrums in the housing market is caused by the speculative investors, resale, overpricing, lack of adequate knowledge of the housing market and lack of trust in the competence of the professional agents to fix price acceptable to the seller. It was therefore recommended that sellers undertake the valuation of their property before putting it in the market and that they should trust in the competence of the agent to advise on price deemed optimal for the property

Building a Career in Estate Management: The Perspective of Covenant University Students

The practice of estate management is influenced by processes developed over many years and worked out by a profession that has been established since 1975 by Decree No. 24 in Nigeria with all the strength and weaknesses inherent. The study examined the perception of estate management student about a career in the profession of Estate Surveying and Valuation. Estate management students of Covenant University students from 100 to 500 levels were adopted as population sample for the study. Structured questionnaires were analyzed and the simple descriptive statistics and mean item score were used for analysis. The outcome of the study shows that some of the students are not fully aware of the course- Estate Management but were compelled to study it. Some others willingly choose to study the course having heard about the prospect and some others just dabbled into it in a bid to avoid time wasting. One of the recommendations is that more orientation should be given to students about the different profession and its prospect so as to enhance their knowledge before venturing into them. It also recommended that there should be more interaction between the university system and the professional practice to enable students have better exposure of the real practice after graduation

Assessing Wetland Services in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Man’s perception about wetland has drastically changed from viewing the ecosystem as wasteland that can only be drained or sandfilled for economic uses. Apart from performing functional values, wetlands offer services that are both beneficial to man and the environment. In the light of this, the study examined wetland services in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Out of the one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaire administered on the respondent Estate Surveyors and Valuers in the study area, seventy-two (72) were retrieved out which fifty-five (55) respondents reported that they had participated in wetland valuation assignment in time past. It was these 55 that were used for analysis in the study. The study revealed that the components of wetland environment that are capable of assessment, using the market support approaches are mostly valued in the Niger Delta. It further revealed that flood control (RII = 3.81), cultural heritage (RII = 3.80), piritual and inspiration (RII = 3.60) and erosion regulation (RII = 3.42) are very important services in the Niger Delta. Based on these findings, the study therefore recommends that Estate Surveyors and Valuers should give consideration to the services performed by wetlands when conducting valuation within such ecosystems

A Critique of Real Estate Agency in Nigeria: Policy, Pedagogy and Practice

Real estate agency in Nigeria is confronted with various challenges that border on ethics and conduct in practice. This study assessed this situation by undertaking a tripartite review of the policy framework, pedagogy and practice of real estate agency. The position of policy on the practice of real estate agency was examined alongside pedagogic approach to training and issues of ethics in the practice. Questionnaires were used for data collection while relevant policy documents and extant literatures were also reviewed. Respondent groups include the thirty-five final year students of the Department of Estate Management Covenant University as well as the principal officers of fifty-two practicing Estate Firms in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. Data were analysed with 5-Point Likert scale and mean score and subsequently ranked while Paired Sample T-Test was used to compare and establish if there is significant difference between the opinions of the study groups about the adequacy of real estate agency training in tertiary institutions. It was found among others that the pedagogic approach was inadequate in terms of period of delivery. It was also found that agency was not properly grafted into real estate profession while issues relating to ethics, misconduct and conflicts are rife among practitioners. In addition, it was found that institutions’ intervention mechanism in ethics and misconduct among practicing surveyors is weak and ineffective. The study therefore suggests improvement in pedagogic approach, amendment of existing policy to re-define and enshrine real estate agency in real estate profession thereby making it exclusive preserve of qualified practitioners. It also recommends empowering institutions’ intervention mechanisms for a more effective monitoring