By Okon Okon
The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has urged  government at all levels to enforce regulatory laws guiding buildings as a measure to curb recurring building collapses  in the country.

The President NIQS, Mr Olayemi Shonubi, made the call on Wednesday at a news conference on activities of the institute ahead of its 30th Biennial Conference/General Meeting, scheduled to hold between Nov. 21 and Nov. 25 in Abuja.

Shonubi said the body known as ‘Quantity Surveyor Registration Board of Nigeria’, was established under a decree in 1986, and with democracy in place, became an Act of the National Assembly

According to him, with strict disciplinary actions by the government and the relevant professional bodies in the sector, building collapse will be restrain in Nigeria.

He attributed some incidents of building collapse to the handing over of some building constructions to unprofessional or quacks in the system.

“To check incidents in the system, a body, ‘Quantity Surveyor Registration Board of Nigeria’, was set up under a decree in 1986.

“But with the coming of democracy, it became an Act in the National Assembly.

“That body was set up to regulate the practice, but failed because of failure of implementation and enforcement, “Shonubi said.

The NIQS’s president advised Nigerians and government officials to always engage the services of professionals in any building construction.

He said that buildings collapse were becoming more pronounced and a shame to those who were trained in the field.

While calling on governments on the implementation and enforcement of the guiding laws, Shonubi, however, lauded the recent efforts of government at both the states and  federal level at demolishing some buildings wrongly sited.

“In some states as well as at the federal level, there are some demolitions going on and people are sympathetic to people’s building being demolished, but why should people go and build on the water channels.

“Is it that people who build on flood areas do not know that the flood will also help to erode the foundation of their buildings, ” he said.

Shonubi said the forthcoming conference would address critical challenges facing Nigeria’s infrastructural growth.

“The week-long event is packed with diverse activities including a visit to the orphanage home in furtherance to the institute’s corporate social responsibility.

“There is the induction of new corporate members, and investiture of new Fellows.

“Other activities are the Annual General Meeting and elections into various positions in the National Executive Council as well as the inauguration of the newly elected members of NIQS.

“It is noteworthy to mention that we shall also be hosting Quantity Surveyors from all over Africa for the 9th Triennial General Assembly of the African Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS).

“This will take place on the sideline of our Biennial Conference on Nov. 24, “he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is, “Integrated Cost Management Solutions for Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Delivery: A Key to National Economic Development.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) MZM/CEO/SH

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