Law
By Lilian Chukwu
Lagos, June 11, 2018 (NAN) Mr Chucks Omeife, a former President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), on Monday, called for the enactment of a law to back the National Building Code (NBC).
In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Omeife said that the existence of the law had become necessary to facilitate the enforcement of the contents of the NBC.
He said that the NBC, instituted by professional bodies in the construction industry in 2006, needed to be adapted into a public law and be reviewed every five years.
According to him, building standards of operation will improve if the NBC is be made a public law, and that a public law will help to regulate and control construction activities.
Omeife, who is also the President, Chattered Project Management Institute of Nigeria (CPMIN), said that such law would ensure compliance with the codes, standards and guidelines on construction activities.
”The NBC 2006 set out minimum standards on building pre-design, design, construction and post construction stages to guarantee good building practice to attain quality construction, safety and expertise.
“The National Building Code has put in place very important measures that will promote professionalism in the Nigerian building industry and make sure that every professional is accountable for his own deeds or misdeeds.
“It has set effective means of monitoring, regulating, and imposing of standards in building construction,” he said.
Omeife noted that passing the Building Code Bill before the National Assembly, into law would be a sure way of penalising any professional that contravenes the nation’s building codes.
He added that the purpose of the law was to protect public health, safety and general welfare of Nigerians, saying that the law would facilitate implementation of the building codes.
“It is good to sign the NBC Bill; the most important thing is to pass it into law, so as to aid its enforcement and ensure compliance.
“In Nigeria today, if a building collapses, nobody will be held responsible because there is no law that specifies who should be responsible for it.
“Enforcement of the provisions of Building Code will ensure quality, health, safety and proficiency in the building industry.
“This will reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage, enhance standards and predictable playing field for designers, professional builders and suppliers,” he said. (NAN)
LUC/KTO/YEMI
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Yemi Idris-Aduloju