Lagos, NIOB seek new strategy for physical development

Eggheads in the built environment and members of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) have called for new strategy to promote access to property right, create jobs and redeem negative narratives in the housing industry.

The experts, who spoke at 29th Lagos Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting, organised by the state’s chapter of NIOB, stressed the need to adhere to relevant extant laws, protocols, and collaboration among the professionals.

The state’s commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who chaired the forum, said government, is planning to tackle youth unemployment and solve challenges in the construction industry.

According to him, one of the areas for engaging youths is through vocational training to reduce over reliance on foreign artisans.

Salako urged builders to expand their knowledge on managing the built environment in an efficient manner.

He charged them to make the environment safe and sustainable, operate within the ambit of law, as the nation needs the support of the built professionals.

According to him, for a building to be fit for human habitation, it must observe the parameters that include, elements of physical, social, technical, economic and physiological as embedded in the national building code.

The commissioner declared that the state looks forward to further partnership with all professionals to enhance physical development and a greater Lagos.

Raising concerns on poor quality of work in the sector, NIOB president, Kunle Awobodu, told the gathering that it’s only through proper supervision of structures that the built environment can move forward.

Awobodu stressed that stakeholders must collectively be alive to their responsibility as they have a critical role to play in attaining a sustainable building sector.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Safe and Sustainable Building in Lagos State – Implementation Strategy for Physical Development Law and Regulation’, the state Chairman chapter, Sunday Wusu, said the institute paves way for members and all relevant stakeholders to deliver safe and sustainable shelter, and consequently, address housing deficit in the country.

This, he observed can only be achieved through training, retraining, research and development of local materials, and keeping abreast with current trends in global technological practices.

Earlier, the Chairman, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Prof. Bala Kabir, reiterated that the built sector needs mentorship for sustainability of young builders both academically and professionally.

Kabir who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, charged practitioners to stick to professional ethics at all times, stressing that quality must be enforced from the beginning of projects.

The forum attracted the General Manager, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, Dr. Afolabi Tajudeen, the GM of Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mrs Abiola Kosegbe and Lagos State Planning Permit Authority, Mr. Funmi Osifuye and a lawyer, Bayo Owojori.

Others include, the national chairman, Association of Professional Women Builders, Adenike Sa’id, Head of department of building, YabaTech, Mr Aladeloba, the chairman, Local Organising Committee of the conference, Owolabi Ayoola, and representative of Managing Director of Custodian Insurance, Anthony Olojede.