NIOB urges sanction for erring builders to end building collapse
Building
By Ella Anokam
Abuja, March 21, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), FCT Chapter, has called for appropriate regulations and sanctions to erring offenders in the sector.
The Acting Chairman NIOB, FCT Chapter, Mr Peter Omale, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at its 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Omale identified lack of appropriate regulations and enforcement as the greatest challenge facing the Nigerian built environment.
“There is need for appropriate regulations, effective enforcement and the application of sanctions and punishments to erring offenders in the sector.
“Until these are put in place and quacks are expelled from handling construction works, buildings may continue to collapse and the consequence of these is the continuous loss of valuable lives and property,” he said.
He said that quackery also remained a major problem in the built environment despite all efforts by the institute and other professional bodies to address the issue.
“We will continue to agitate for the passage of the National Building Code (NBC) into law.
“We have visited the various construction sites where buildings have collapsed to investigate the reasons for the ugly occurrences and proffer solutions to these menace,’’ he said.
He called on government and relevant stakeholders to rise up to the challenge as the effort would help to address the issues effectively.
He also called on National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the NBC into law to produce safe buildings in Nigeria.
“The chapter has reached advanced stages in our collaborative efforts with the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB).
“Not less than six members of the institute have been engaged to supervise UBEB School projects being built across the six Area Councils of the FCT as a way of creating employment for our members,” he said.
Omale noted that the chapter has also entered into partnership with the Construction Skills Training and Empowerment Project (C-Stemp) in the area of training, development and empowerment for its members and artisans.
He said that the recent inauguration and introduction of the National Skills Qualification (NSQF) framework by the National Board for Technical Education gave its members opportunity to train as assessors and verifiers.
“We are therefore encouraging builders to participate in the national skills qualification framework by keying into the programme and making them available for the training.
He said that the chapter also extended its hand of fellowship to tertiary institutions where building was offered as a course of study.
“We visited educational institutions particularly the Federal Polytechnics Nassarawa and Kaduna; we supported the departments with relevant text books.
“We hope that the gesture will go a long way to encourage young people to embrace the profession,” he said.
The acting chairman noted that the visit was to expose the students on career opportunities available to builders.
In a presentation, Dr Samson Opaluwah, Vice Chairman, Council for the Regulation of Registered Builders in Nigeria (CORBON), said the sector required professionals and vocational trade operatives to achieve success.
He noted that the system of education promoted competition rather than collaboration, adding that there was inadequate leadership by government and professional bodies.
He called for synergy among the relevant stakeholders, adding that current individual approaches were unhelpful to economy and professions. (NAN)
ELLA/VOE/WOJ
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Edited by Vivian Emoni/Wale Ojetimi