Builders call for quick passage of National Building Code

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has asked the 9th National Assembly to lay to rest the decade-long advocacy for the passage of the National Building Code, a regulatory document that has been before the National Assembly for over ten years.

NIOB also urged government and relevant stakeholders to rise up to the challenge and call on the National Assembly to expedite action with the passage of the NBC into law and enforcing it as it remains a key-gate to the production of safe buildings in Nigeria.

Chairman NIOB Abuja Chapter, Omale Peter Ameh, disclosed this Wednesday in Abuja at the 2022 conference/annual meeting (AGM) of the chapter.

He noted that quackery remain one of the major problem in the built environment despite all the efforts being carried out by the institute and other professional bodies to address the issue.

“We have again called on the National Assembly to pass the National Building Code (NBC) into law. While we continued to agitate for the passage of the National Building Code into law, we will continue our advocacy and public enlightenment activities,

According to him “at this event will readily agree that the continuous sad commentary of building collapse and unwarranted loss of lives and properties in country is an embarrassment to the built environment professionals, which has negatively imparted on our practice, lack of collaboration by professionals in the building/construction industry, indiscriminate importation of substandard material and lack of adherence to regulatory framework is are some of the most visible problems and challenges which has led to building collapse and unwarranted loss of lives and properties.

“I am confident that our deliberation at this conference will evolve solutions needed to address these challenges in the sector.

“Professionals in the Built environment will readily agree that one of the greatest challenges of the Nigerian built environment is the need for appropriate regulations, effective enforcement and the application of sanctions and punishments to earing 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.

“I am glad to inform you that our resource persons are highly versatile professionals of the built environment, the experiences that they will share with us today will no doubt enrich our practice, i enjoin you to pay attention to the presentations while looking forward to your invaluable contributions.

The Secretary General, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Prince Adebiyi Adetosoye said the topic, “Curbing the menace of building collapse in Nigeria” is apt considering the spate of collapse of buildings in the country.

He commended the FCT chapter of the NIOB for its commitment to interrogating the subject, stating that it is only when professionals are accorded their rightful patronage that the challenge of building collapse will be addressed.