By Grace Alegba
Former President of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Mr Adesegun Banjoko, says artisans remain relevant to Nigeria’s building sector in spite of advances in building technology.
Banjoko said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said recent building collapses across some states of the federation were largely attributable to the use of low-quality materials and a lack of integrity rather than poor craftsmanship on the part of artisans.
He said the problem was not necessarily a lack of skills among modern artisans but poor integrity and weak compliance with standards across the construction value chain.
Banjoko said modern artisans were, in many cases, more skilled and exposed to improved techniques than artisans in the past.
He noted that technical schools, government skills acquisition programmes and industry training had helped improve the capacity of artisans.
“Present-day artisans in the cities are definitely better than the old artisans because they are more exposed, particularly to modern building materials.
“But whether integrity has improved is the question,” he said.
Banjoko said effective supervision was also critical to ensuring that engineers’ designs were properly interpreted and executed by artisans.
He recalled that buildings constructed decades ago had remained standing because of strict adherence to standards and effective supervision.
According to him, corruption and compromises in the production and use of building materials have weakened the construction sector.
Banjoko, who is a member of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, said the organisation had been involved in training and monitoring activities aimed at reducing building failures.
He said the guild organised direct training programmes for bricklayers, painters and other artisans, often in collaboration with private organisations and international partners.
He added that artisans also gained knowledge indirectly by working under experienced professionals who supervised their activities.
Banjoko said the guild also engaged artisans as “foot soldiers” in communities to report developments and possible violations in the built environment.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that standards were not compromised at any stage of construction, from the production of materials to their application on building sites.
On technology, Banjoko said the block moulding industry was already adopting modern machines and production methods.
He said technological advancement would not eliminate local block makers because construction demand existed across different communities and local government areas.
He explained that modern block-making machines had significantly increased production capacity compared with the manual methods previously used by operators.
Banjoko also dismissed concerns that the ageing workforce in the block moulding sector would create a major skills gap.
He said younger people were gradually entering the sector, while experienced operators were transferring knowledge to their children and younger workers.
He noted that many successful block makers started as bricklayers before moving into block production.
Banjoko urged financial institutions and development finance agencies to provide affordable capital to block makers and other small operators in the construction sector.
He said access to finance would enable operators to acquire modern equipment, improve productivity and remain competitive.
Banjoko also advocated stronger efforts to preserve environmentally friendly construction practices, noting that traditional building methods often provided natural cooling and ventilation.
He said rapid urbanisation, industrial activity and increasing vehicle emissions had contributed to environmental pollution in cities.
He called for greater attention to sustainable construction, improved building standards and stronger enforcement to ensure safer and more resilient buildings.
Banjoko also urged the Federal Government to attract more cement manufacturers to Nigeria to reduce the price of the commodity.
He said increased competition in the cement industry would help expand production capacity and make cement more affordable for builders and developers.
According to him, cement remains the major bonding material used in construction, and its affordability is critical to preventing building collapses.
Banjoko said competition among manufacturers was necessary to strengthen supply and prevent shortages.
He also urged the government to strengthen quality control across the building materials industry, saying compromises by manufacturers and other stakeholders were contributing to structural failures.
According to him, some building materials produced today are sometimes below the required standards as manufacturers and suppliers seek higher profits.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa