BCPG urges use of surveyors in building construction

The Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Ikeja Cell has called on prospective building developers and clients to engage the services of Quantity Surveyors before embarking on construction.

This was the submission of the experts at a one-day seminar organised by BCPG Ikeja Cell, where Mrs. Adejoke Alabi, the lead speaker said, “Prevention of defective building construction and building project abandonment begins at the point where the quantity surveyor uses the architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical drawings to determine the overall cost of the project.

“Once it is discovered that the cost of the proposed project is beyond the available or anticipated fund, the client could request the architect and engineers to review the design of the building to what he or she could afford rather than embarking on a building project that would take a long time to complete, thereby exposing the structure to the debilitating weather effects.”

The Coordinator of the BCPG Ikeja Cell, Mrs. Iyabode Bolarinwa, observed that, “most clients pretend to understand the architectural design until reality dawns on them when the building is being constructed.

Mrs. Bolarinwa, a former Vice Chairman of Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) explained that many clients have suffered from collapse of businesses and high blood pressure for embarking on building construction without first quantifying the cost implications.

Responding to a constructive criticism by the former Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Lagos Branch, Mr. Babatunde Johnson, stated that the quantity surveyor had the tendency of overprotecting the interest of the client to the detriment of the contractor.

The Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Hon. Mojeed Balogun, ably represented by his Special Adviser on Works and Housing, Hon. Olusegun Aderowo emphasised on the importance of putting quality ahead of profit in construction as durability, on the long run, would be cheaper than constant repair of shoddy works.

Similarly, the Chairman of the BCPG, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Solomon Ogunseye, an architect observed that some clients were ignorant of the advantage of obtaining bills of quantities before embarking on construction projects.

With reasonable charges, the Quantity Surveyor would assist a prospective home-owner cut his or her coat according to the individual’s size in terms of fund availability.

In his peculiar contribution, the Secretary of BCPG Ikeja Cell, Mr. Frank Ikuewan, a geologist highlighted the relevance of Schedule of Materials prepared by the Quantity Surveyor as a tool for discouraging pilfering of materials on site.

Relationship between the Bill of Quantities that is usually prepared by the Quantity Surveyor and Valuation prepared by the Estate Surveyor and Valuer on a building was clarified by Mr. Biodun Olapade, a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.

The BCPG National President, Mr. George Akinola, an architect that moderated the seminar reiterated the benefit of synergy that Building Collapse Prevention Guild has been promoting among the built environment professionals which, ultimately, would bridge communication gap and reduce the unpleasant role rivalries and conflicts within the nation’s construction industry.