Date: 2014-08-25

Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has recommended a robust construction policy and code to stop building collapse in the country.

He spoke in Ilorin, the state capital during the 44th annual Builders' Conference and General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB). Also, former Minister of Sports, Ambassador Bala Kaoje deplored the spate of collapsed structures in the country, tasking builders in Nigeria to rise to the occasion and stop the calamity.

The governor who was represented by Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Bode Olayemi, urged Nigerians to avoid engaging quacks in the construction of buildings to avoid waste of resources and tragic loss of lives. He said, "I therefore recommend a law to ensure that only trained builders are allowed to construct buildings in the country. This law shall be called construction code.

"This will also create uniform construction standards across the country so that no matter where you are across the country you can be assured of quality and safe building."

Kaoje, one-time National President of NIOB and current chairman of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) charged his colleagues to work tirelessly to bring an end to the menace.

"The issue of building collapse has been so much talked about in this country and we builders must wake up to make sure that we do our best to make sure that we bring an end to building collapse in Nigeria," he said.

>p>National President of NIOB, Builder Tunde Lasabi warned that construction of buildings should not be left in the hands quacks, saying, "Builders in Nigeria will continue to play their role effectively as the critical link in production management."

He said the theme of the conference, "Nigerian Construction Industry Development: Collaborations, Innovations and Capacity Building" was derived from a deep concern to explore the potential of research, collaborations and professionalism in the positive growth and development of the building industry.