Builders’ Day 2024: NIOB Visits Kwara Govt., SON For Synergy On Buildings, Infrastructure Problems
The Nigerian Institute of Building Technology (NIOB) has extended a familiarization visit to the Kwara State Government and Standard Organization of Nigeria to mark the occasion of Builders’ Day for the year 2024.
The NIOB visited Kwara State Commissioner for Housing, Arc. Dr. Segun Ogunsola to synergise on how to improve housing and infrastructure in Kwara State.
While addressing the commissioner, the Chairman NIOB Kwara State Chapter, Bldr. Opoola Abdulmajeed noted that NIOB since inception has remained in the vanguard of the struggle to ensure the emergence of a responsible building environment, which constitutes the need to place housing as an important agenda by the new administration of the ministry.
He said the NIOB has not been unmindful of the pathetic state of housing in the country, which has been largely characterized by huge gaps in quantity and quality; the embarrassing menace of building collapse, dearth of skilled artisans, affordability issues, weak regular frameworks, as well as overall poor development of the housing sector.
The Institute of Building therefore recommended professionalization of the housing sector to allow for synergy among professional actors and defeat the menace of quackery, review of contractor certificates and registrations to follow global best practices.
The NIOB also charged on effective building control through the instruments of the National Building Code and related legislations at Federal, State, and Local Government levels.
Speaking to the State Head of the Standard Organization of Nigeria, the NIOB raised concerns about the intermittent building collapse in Nigeria and the need to address the issue.
According to the Chairman, Kwara Chapter, “Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where the integrity of our buildings and infrastructure is under constant threat due to the influx of substandard materials flooding our markets. This not only jeopardizes the safety of our citizens but also undermines the nation’s development efforts and erodes public trust in our regulatory systems.
“The recent spate of building collapses serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for decisive action. Lives lost, livelihoods shattered, and communities torn apart—all casualties of a systemic failure to enforce stringent standards and curb the circulation of inferior construction materials.”
The NIOB equally charged the Standard Organization of Nigeria to enhance enforcement mechanisms, foster collaboration, promote innovation, and stream certification processes as the vanguard of quality assurance.
In their different responses, the Kwara State Government and Standard Organization of Nigeria commended NIOB, Kwara chapter led by Bldr. Opoola for remarkable recommendations on how to improve housing and infrastructure in Nigeria. They pledge to support the NIOB as the relevant stakeholders in building and infrastructural development in the country.
The NIOB officials were received by the clerk of the House, Kwara State House of Assembly on behalf of the speaker. The Building Institute was given assurances that concerns raised would be duly channeled to the relevant authorities and were encouraged to submit comprehensive submissions for further review and consideration.
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