Africa Surveyors November-December issue 2023

NEWS BRIEFS
Surveyors oppose government’s plans to
hike land rates
The government of Kenya is seeking
to implement a proposal to hike land
rates and transfer of the National
Land Commission (NLC) functions to the
Lands Ministry. However, the Institution of
Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) has opposed this
proposal terming it as punitive to ordinary
citizens while the transfer functions from
the Lands Agency would contravene the
constitution.
Contrary, the World bank is backing up the
land rates and fees increment, saying it will
improve revenue collection by the Ministry of
Lands which is expected to increase the cost
of land by more than 100 times. According to
Eric Nyadimo, the ISK president, the proposals
will have ripple effects on the country’s
economy and would be costly for ordinary
citizens.
“We find that these proposals are very unfair
to members of the public and we reject them.
For instance, we find that Sh2000 for land
search as unfair because the Kenyans already
pay taxes which are supposed to be used to
provide services,” said Eric Nyadimo.
“We are saying why should the government
charge or increase rates when there are
no services for instance having rates
for freehold land yet there is no proper
sewerage or good roads. We are saying rates
should only be based on services that are
being offered,” Adds Mr. Nyadimo.
In his objection, Nyadimo added that, the
proposals to transfer some functions from
NLC such as land valuation, would negate
the gains made on land reforms as the
ministry will get more unchecked powers.
“We are yet to decide on what to do next
should the proposals go through but we
reject these proposals,” he added.
He noted that, although they back the
digitising of land records through the Ardhi
Sasa to improve service delivery, they called
for the creation of a committee involving
professionals and state officials to ensure
proper implementation of the system.
Australian company to start seismic survey
off West Coast in January
At the start of the new year, an
Australian company based in the UK,
Searcher Geodata, plans to begin
a seismic survey for oil and gas reserves off
South Africa’s West Coast.
The survey, over 30,000 square kilometres
about 220km offshore between St Helena
Bay and Hondeklip Bay, involves blasting
continuous pulses of sound at 255 decibels
(dB) to create a 3D map of the seafloor and
underlying geology. Decibel charts for human
sound don’t usually go above 150dB, which is
the intensity of fireworks and gunshots, and is
considered painful and dangerous.
The green area is where Searcher Geodata will do its
seismic survey in 2024. Map from consultant’s environmental
assessment report. Image: courtesy
Western Cape High Court by small-scale
fishers and civic rights organisation We Are
South Africans.
Shelter Afrique
Development Bank
Pioneers Affordable
Housing Credit
Guarantee Program in
Nigeria
Shelter Afrique Development Bank - HQ Image:
Shelter Afrique
Shelter Afrique Development Bank
(ShafDB), a leading Pan-African
institution committed to financing
and advancing housing, urban, and related
infrastructure development, is delighted to
announce its innovative Affordable Housing
Credit Guarantee Program in Nigeria, fully
approved by its Board of Directors.
The innovative financing structure has begun
with the first pilot transaction of Naira
three billion (Naira 3 Billion) debt financing
guarantee for Modern Shelter Systems and
Services Limited (“Modern Shelter”) under a
comprehensive affordable housing program.
This groundbreaking initiative, facilitated by
InfraCredit, a triple A (AAA)-rated specialized
infrastructure credit guarantee institution,
aims to develop 370 affordable housing units
in Nasarawa Technology Village, adhering to
the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC)
green building standards, EDGE.
This initiative is part of Shelter Afrique
Development Bank (ShafDB)’s expansive
Naira 200 billion Affordable Housing Credit
Program in Nigeria. Early last year, ShafDB
proceeded with a debut Naira 46 billion bond
issuance in Nigeria’s capital market which was
oversubscribed by 60.7%, reflecting a strong
investor appetite.
According to the Environmental Basic
Assessment Report, sound levels will still be
160dB four kilometres away from the ship.
Searcher tried to start a 3D survey off the
West Coast last year but was halted by
an interdict obtained in March 2022 in the
Then on 20 December last year, the
Department of Minerals and Energy
granted environmental approval after
a new application had been lodged
on 1 November by a newly appointed
environmental assessment practitioner
(EAP), Environmental Impact Management
Services.
ShafDB’s debut bond issuance lays the ground
for its local currency funding to mitigate
foreign currency risk. Along with ShafDB’s
anchor investment in Housing Solution Fund
(HSF), to address the demand side, we are
closing the loop on de-risking the housing
ecosystem and value-chain.
4 November-December issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com