The rising incidence of building collapse in Nigeria has been linked to high building approval costs, cumbersome regulatory processes and weak enforcement of construction standards, with the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE), Ikeja chapter, warning that the problem requires urgent attention from government and industry stakeholders.

NATE said building failures could not be blamed solely on the use of substandard materials, stressing that systemic challenges in the construction sector could also undermine compliance with safety regulations and put lives at risk.

The Pioneer Chairman of NATE, Ikeja chapter, Dr Ekpo Samuel Friday, stated this during the inauguration and chartering of the chapter, held under the theme, “Building a Stronger Professional Community through Unity, Collaboration and Excellence.”

“Building collapse is not really an engineering problem. Building collapse is also in the hands of governments,” Friday said.

He explained that lengthy approval procedures and high regulatory costs could discourage developers from following established processes, calling on governments to simplify approvals through online platforms that would reduce bureaucracy, delays and opportunities for bribery.

He also advocated affordable laboratory testing of building materials and adequate remuneration for professionals to strengthen compliance with construction standards and improve building safety.

Friday urged stakeholders to work together to make regulatory procedures more accessible without compromising quality, insisting that effective collaboration was necessary to prevent avoidable building failures.

On his leadership priorities, he said he would promote professionalism, mentorship and technological innovation to improve members’ capacity and strengthen their contributions to the engineering sector.

He identified bureaucracy, competition between the chapter and the Lagos State branch, and the cost of adopting digital platforms as some of the challenges facing the new chapter.

He, however, expressed optimism that cooperation among stakeholders would help overcome them.

Also, National President and Chairman-in-Council of NATE, Dominic Udoatan, charged members of the Ikeja chapter to uphold professionalism, unity and integrity in advancing engineering technology in Nigeria.

Udoatan said engineering technologists must demonstrate their relevance through competence, innovation and commitment to national development.

He described the chapter’s chartering as an opportunity to showcase the contributions of engineering technologists to solving challenges in industry, infrastructure and technological systems.

He urged the chapter’s leadership to prioritise professional excellence, discipline and purposeful leadership while creating opportunities for members’ development and mentoring younger professionals.

Udoatan, who warned that personal interests and internal disagreements could undermine the association’s collective goals, called on the Ikeja chapter to maintain productive relationships with the Lagos State branch and the national secretariat, noting that cooperation across the Association’s structures was essential for sustained progress.

In his keynote address, Director-General of the Nigerian College of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management, Prof. Peter Ekong, urged NATE members to embrace unity, collaboration and professional excellence to advance the engineering and technology sector.

Ekong said the establishment of a new chapter represented a renewed commitment to professional unity, collective growth, technological advancement and excellence in service.

He noted that professional associations could achieve sustainable growth when members worked together towards common goals.

Describing unity as the foundation of a successful professional association, he urged members to promote mutual respect, inclusiveness, professional integrity and shared responsibility, regardless of their areas of specialisation.

Also speaking, Chairman of NATE, Lagos State branch, Oyedele Victor Afolayan, urged the newly inaugurated Ikeja chapter to prioritise membership mobilisation, professional development and collaboration.

Afolayan, while addressing the pioneer chairman and members, said the real work began after the inauguration, urging them to maintain cordial relationships with the Lagos State branch, the South-West zonal leadership and the National Executive Council.

He expressed confidence that the chapter would become a reference point for excellence, innovation, unity and purposeful leadership, assuring members of the branch’s continued support for their professional growth and increased participation in the association.