The Nigerian institute of building (NIOB) has recounted some of their successes and challenges as it helps in monitoring building projects and ensuring quality and well constructed building for the safety of the Nigerians.
The Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) stated this through a submission made by the President of NIOB, Prof. Yohana Izam while addressing journalists in Jos on the occasion of the commemoration of the 4th Builders Day which was held virtually on Tuesday.
He said the Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) has ensured for the reinforcement of housing development strategies which covers planning, design, construction, occupancy and post occupancy circles in the life of buildings as encapsulated in the workings of a properly formulated and regulated industry.
Prof Izam stated that the NIOB was not unmindful of the pathetic state of housing in the country which has been largely characterized by huge gaps in quantity and quality; embarrassing menace of building collapse, dearth of skilled artisans, affordability issues, weak regulatory frameworks, as well as overall poor development of the housing sector.
The NIOB President noted with utmost concerns that even as the Association commemorated the 4th anniversary Builders Day, it was quite sad that since the event of March 13th, 2019 which witnessed the collapse of a five storey building at 63, Massey Street, Ita Faaji in which 20 school children died, the country has not stopped witnessing the collapse of buildings with attendant loss of lives and properties.
Prof Izam further noted with consternation that in the last four decades, an estimated 465 buildings have collapsed across major cities in the country due to range of factors that bordered on poor regulation of production management, use of substandard materials, illegal alterations to existing buildings and activities of quacks.
He stated that Ita-Faaji in particular has become a metaphor through which to view the monumental loss of great potentials and material resources associated with reckless and needless collapse of buildings during and after construction.
Consequently, the President of NIOB relied on previous workshops/conferences of the Institute and the Pat Utomi intervention at the maiden Pa Osikoya Lecture in the last two years as its valuable recommendations for incoming Administrations, come May 29th, 2023 in the area of housing as follows:
Professionalism of the housing sector to allow for synergy among professional actors and defeat the menace of quackery in addition to urgent review of contractor classification and registration to follow global practices.
Effective building control through the instruments of the National Building Code and related legislations at federal, state and local government levels.
Speaking further on the recommendations, Prof. Izam said, “The Country is long overdue for the recalibration of housing corporations as viable one stop shops for managing all aspects of housing development with the specialized Ministry devoting greater attention to housing policy formulation.
“The idea of federal and state ministries’ involvement in direct construction of houses should be discouraged while housing agencies should be saddled with the implementation of housing targets on short, medium and long term plans.
“The country is long overdue for the recalibration of the mortgage sector to allow for improved transparency and access to home ownership
“Creation through legislation of housing trust funds to stimulate the mortgage market”.
The NIOB President posited that owing to its prominence, it’s necessary for the incoming administrations to boost the housing sector in view of the immediate impact that it makes on the GDP through the multiple channels of private residential investments as well as consumption spending on housing services.
He said that the secondary economic impact of boosting the housing sector resides in its value which can be used to stimulate additional consumption and investments which he said, is critical to the current efforts to boost the national economy.
“The Nigerian Institute of Building is also of the strong view that the achievement of the much needed job creation targets by the incoming administration can only quickly be realized through the stimulation of the housing sector; studies have shown that the job creation in Africa ranges from 2 to 6 direct jobs and 3 to 9 indirect jobs per unit of housing.
“Another key point to stress is the value that unlocking the housing sector creates in the area of inclusion by promoting job opportunities for not only Builders, Architects, Engineers and other professionals but also craftsmen such as plumbers, welders, electricians, painters and carpenters”, Izam said.
In the light of the above, the NIOB President said the impact of housing goes beyond the valuable social benefits of providing shelter and deepening stakeholders engagement with nation building but also includes indirect benefits that results from the multiplier effects of consumer spending.
Prof. Izam thanked members of the NIOB for their full support to the Builders Day commemoration, particularly for their support to the success of the 4th Anniversary.
He equally thanked sister built environment professionals and stakeholders across stated of the federation for positive collaborations. “It is important that the synergy with sister organizations be maintained to defeat quackery and under performance of the industry which is key to national development”, Prof. Yohana Izam said.
High point of the event was the virtual induction of 111 corporate members of the Institute which the NIOB President said was a testimony of the rapid growth being experienced in the membership strength of the building profession.
There were Goodwill messages from state Chapter Chairmen in one state each of the six Geopolitical zones of the country.
