In a renewed effort to involve Lagos residents at the grassroots in its campaign, Building Collapse and Prevention Guild (BCPG) has called for partnership with the Ikeja Local Government to prevent building collapse.
The Coordinator of the BCPG, Ikeja Cell, Mrs. Iyabode Bolarinwa made this known when she led a delegation from the Cell on courtesy visit to the Chairman, Ikeja Local Government Area, Mojeed Alabi Balogun, an engineer, in his office.
She said the motive was to explore areas of collaboration.
Bolarinwa who is a former vice chairman, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), the regulatory body of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), said the call to involve people at the grassroots in the campaign to prevent buildings from collapse had become imperative considering the high rate of shoddy housing projects being carried out across the local government areas in the state.
She noted that due to lack of awareness campaign on the need to engage professionals in the built environment when commencing housing projects by property owners.
Mrs. Bolarinwa, who disclosed that the embarrassment the incidents of collapsed buildings have caused the country has assumed international level, reiterated that the solution to the menace must begin at the grassroots by way of enlightenment/awareness programmes.
“People at the grassroots who will be participants at such forums will be given orientation on the need to engage qualified built environment professionals when embarking housing projects to prevent their houses from collapsing after some years of construction due to the use of substandard materials coupled with shoddy jobs done on the buildings.
According to her, developers at the grassroots think more of profit that will make at the end of the project than the longevity of the property.
She said using appropriate professionals to deliver housing projects will benefit property owners more in the long run, because decent and quality houses will be delivered to them, and they will be sure of long lasting houses.
Responding, Balogun pledged that the council’s willingness to partner and collaborate with the Cell in its campaign against collapsed buildings particularly around Ikeja.
He said the Council would be sending representatives to attend the monthly meetings to be abreast with the programmes of the Cell.
