By Oyintutu Oyinkolade/Angela Atabo
The Federal Government has challenged Nigerian builders to help close the housing gap by delivering homes that are affordable, safe, professional and sustainable.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, gave the charge in Abuja while chairing the 56th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the conference, themed “Repositioning the Building Profession, Advocacy and Policy Influence in Housing Delivery for a Sustainable Built Environment,” focused on pressing challenges confronting Nigeria’s housing sector.
Akume said housing went beyond walls, roofs and doors, describing it as essential to safety, dignity, family stability, quality of life and wealth creation.
He warned that poor workmanship, substandard materials, corruption, shortcuts and the engagement of unqualified persons could undermine efforts to provide quality housing nationwide.
The SGF identified poor compliance with specifications, weak quality control, faulty construction methods, foundation failures and inadequate site supervision among causes of building failures.
He cautioned certified builders against allowing their names or professional seals to be attached to projects they did not personally supervise, saying professionalism and integrity were at stake.
Akume also urged builders to intensify public awareness on the dangers of poor construction, stressing that substandard buildings could cause devastating financial losses and fatalities.
He said affordability remained a major concern, noting that rising construction costs were preventing many Nigerian families from achieving home ownership.
The SGF disclosed that the Federal Government was supporting building-material manufacturing across the geopolitical zones to increase local production and reduce construction costs.
He urged builders to contribute technical expertise, research and industry networks to government housing policies and programmes from planning through implementation.
Akume also encouraged builders to form consortia, establish auditable quality-management systems, train and certify artisans, and partner with government and credible private developers.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, represented by Director of Public Buildings Musa Abdullahi, identified recurring building collapse as a major challenge confronting the sector.
Darma said builders had a critical responsibility to ensure compliance with engineering standards through effective quality control, material testing and proper site supervision.
He urged conference participants to develop practical policy recommendations capable of strengthening housing delivery and addressing the sector’s persistent challenges across Nigeria.
Sen. Aminu Tambuwal, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, described the conference theme as timely, citing Nigeria’s housing deficit, structural safety concerns and sustainable community development.
Tambuwal, represented by Sen. Ibrahim Mustapha, said sustainable housing required effective legislation, sound policies, professional competence, accessible finance and strict compliance with building standards.
He said lawmakers would support measures promoting professional standards and regulatory enforcement, local and climate-resilient materials, improved land administration and access to affordable housing finance.
NIOB President Daniel Kolade said the institute was using advocacy and policy influence to reposition the building profession and improve construction quality while increasing public awareness of qualified professionals.
Kolade identified quackery as a major sectoral challenge, urging Nigerians to engage qualified professionals.
On his part, Dr Adesina Aladeloba NIOB’s third Vice President called for strict enforcement of the National Building Code.
Aladeloba, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Yaba College of Technology, said builders translate architectural and engineering designs into physical structures.
He urged Nigerians to demand professional involvement at every construction stage.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Grace Alegba/Rotimi Ijikanmi