Professionals in the building sector have called on the Federal Government to harmonise all the laws guiding building construction in the country so as to reduce the incidences of building collapse.

An estate surveyor and valuer, Mr. Olayinka Omotosho, said at a symposium organised by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Ikeja Cell, that with proactive measures, the incidences of building collapse would end.

“The Federal Government should harmonise the National Building Code and Building Efficiency Guidelines. If the National Building Code is implemented with consistent enforcement, incidences of building collapse can become history in Nigeria,” he said.

He said, “There should be the establishment of vocational training centres. Soil investigation is also very vital before construction. Wrong foundation on a soil is very dangerous. There should be adequate supervision by the architects and engineers throughout the construction period.

“The influx of substandard building materials should be contained and controlled by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. Hence, the collaboration between the SON and BCPG should be strengthened. We believe it is also time to strengthen the bond between the varying professionals in the built industry as we consistently work towards various means of advancing the industry and militating against the recurrence of building collapse.”

The President, Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment, Prof. Oladapo Adeyemi, said there was a need to incorporate geoscientists in pre-construction investigation for structures in the country.

“This will prevent incessant failure of structures, especially buildings, in our country, the giant of Africa. Geoscientists in Nigeria have to be given their deserved recognition and role in construction of buildings. This is the case in developed countries where even a bungalow cannot be constructed until a geoscientist has had an input,” he said.

Adeyemi added that with collaboration between geoscientists and foundation and structural engineers, structural failures would be reduced to the barest minimum.

The Head, Department of Building, University of Lagos, Dr. Olumide Adenuga, said maintenance of buildings should be regularly undertaken to restore and improve them, and toalso avoid dilapidation.

Adenuga said maintenance would help in defect elimination, proactive risk reduction and failure avoidance, among others.

The BCPG Ikeja Cell Coordinator, Mrs. Iyabode Bolarinwa, said poor maintenance culture could shorten the lifespan of buildings.

“That is why we are using this forum to appeal to building owners, estate and facility managers to give priority to regular maintenance and use appropriate professionals for maintenance work to avoid shoddy jobs,” she said.

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The Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has inaugurated the construction of a 134-kilometre Mfom-Okpoma-Imaje-Bekwarra-Obudu-Obanliku dual carriage road.

According to a statement by the state government, the construction of the road is aimed at re-energising and increasing access to the Obudu Ranch Resort as well as the transportation of farm produce to the markets.

“The construction of the federal road, which will traverse the five local government areas that constitute the Northern Senatorial District of the state, is valued at N31bn and it is expected to be completed in 30 months,” the statement read in part.

Ayade, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu, at the ceremony, said, “This marks the beginning of a new journey in the history of the Northern Senatorial District, which for 45 years has been denied the luxury of driving on good roads occasioned by the challenges of the times and circumstances not occasioned by our people.

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United Kingdom-based provider of online learning programmes, the University College of Estate Management, is set to train Nigerian construction sector professionals.

Officials of the UCEM and CraneswayHoreb Consulting Limited will soon be visiting the country, with a view to recruiting students for degree and masters programmes in building surveying, construction management, quantity surveying, and real estate management.

The Chief Executive Officer of CraneswayHoreb, Akintoye Akinosi, said the institute would be in Lagos in November and would be recruiting students during the visit.

“This will involve attracting foreign investments into the real growth sectors of the economy. In order to achieve this goal, there must be inward investment in the provision of infrastructure such as power, roads, bridges, railways, airports etc. Most foreign companies will have to invest in such infrastructure and will be looking for firms or individuals who have the right set of skills and knowledge to execute such projects.

“One of such skills that will be required is that of a chartered surveyor. Most international clients will be looking for those firms or individuals that are professional and that can add value. They are expecting detailed advice that will enable them to make decisions on real estate investments. They require those who have good knowledge of the local market and can ensure that their assets are properly managed and returns are maximised.”

Akinosi added that it had become necessary for firms and individuals to equip themselves with the right skills and knowledge in order to compete in the global market place.

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Members of the Nigerian Institute of Building have stated that to address the country’s housing deficit, about five to 10 million artisans are needed in key areas in the next 20 years.

Those who spoke at the NIOB Lagos Chapter’s conference and Annual General Meeting noted that the importation of skilled labour should be checked if the nation must meet housing needs.

The Project Director, Construction Skills Training and Empowerment Project, Anthony Okwa, who spoke on the need for vocational training as the bedrock for housing and infrastructural development, said artisans should be considered as critical to any nation’s development.

“People must, therefore, be encouraged to developed interest in technical and vocational education,” he said.

According to him, the high rate of unemployment presents an opportunity for the youth to acquire the necessary skills in construction.

Okwa said there were positions in many organisations taken up by foreigners due to lack of necessary skills and qualifications by Nigerians to perform in those roles.

He said, “Many construction workers are retiring and the industry is also losing out to competing sectors where work is more stable and the pay more competitive. It is important that we invest in training people, particularly the youth, who will be dedicated to the development, design and implementation of engineering and technology projects for the built industry.

“In order to salvage Nigeria from its decaying infrastructure and huge housing deficit, all relevant stakeholders, including the federal and other arms of government, construction companies, real estate developers, professional bodies and trade associations must invest more resources in vocational training to boost the number, competence and quality of manpower for the construction industry.”

He said the National Vocational Qualification Framework approved by the government should be adopted for certification of skills, adding that professional builders had significant roles to play in the process.

The President, NIOB, Mr. Tijani Shuaib, said skills acquisition and vocational training in the built industry had become crucial.

Shuaib, who was represented by the 2nd Vice President of the institute, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, said the NIOB had been recognised as a certificate awarding body by the National Board for Technical Education for the certification of artisans.

“An assessment and certification board has also been inaugurated by the institute comprising its experienced and senior members,” he said.

The Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, NIOB, Mrs. Adenike Said, noted that members of the institute would continue to play their role as professionals at the centre of building construction in accordance with the body’s mission to enable members deliver sustainable shelter to address the housing needs of the country through research, development and global best practices.

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United States of America-based Nigerian construction expert, Lawrence Dibor, has disclosed that he was among a consortium of professionals involved in the design and construction of the President’s House, a monument in the history and administration of the US.

According to Dibor, the house is a memorial located in the Independence Square in the city of Philadelphia, on the site of a building that served as both residence and office for President George Washington in the 18th century and President John Adams during the first two years of his term.

“At that time, Philadelphia was the capital of the United States. The site embodies a profound contradiction during the infancy of the United States, the same home that witnessed the birth of a free nation and its first steps toward democracy,” Dibor said in a statement.

He added that the house was surrounded by the Independence Visitor Center, Constitution Center, Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin House, first US Post Office and the Betsy Ross House.

Dibor said the civil engineering and construction administration of the project were performed by his firm, Adcon Consultants.

He said, “The President’s House is a historical site with a place of pride in the history of America. It brings me great joy and honour to be part of the history of contributing our civil engineering knowledge and experience to creating a monument that is in line with modern construction projects.”

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Ruth Obih is the Chief Executive Officer of 3invest Limited, a real estate advisory and investment firm. In this interview with MAUREEN IHUA-MADUENYI, she says investment in local production, proper economic planning and massive investment in the construction sector will help Nigeria to come out of recession.

The economy is currently in a recession, what effect is this having on real estate transactions?

Recession is a temporary period of economic decline. The International Monetary Fund made a global economic surveillance and all of a sudden, everyone is in a panic. Earlier in the year, the IMF stated that emerging markets and developing economies were now confronting a new reality of lower growth, with cynical and structural forces undermining the traditional growth paradigm. It further advised that these nations should focus on the critical area of infrastructure, where power, transportation and housing are especially important. If we must panic then, we must heed these warnings.

On its effect on real estate, I must also state that a lot of this has to do with us not being a commodity producing country. When you have to rely heavily on trade, then you lack resilience. I must advise that we should focus on the positive impact of times like these. Produce and plan better, especially when it comes to spending. We must be cash-backed. However, it is time to invest and every investor must make hay while the sun shines.

What steps should stakeholders take to help the industry recover?

Use of technology, increase in local production and proper economic planning will be of great use. Access to data is key. The government must encourage and invest in research. In addition, I think it is high time we started looking at the positive effects of this recession rather than living in fear of the negatives.

Also, we must refrain from negative media utterances, which induce investor apathy. These and many more drove our decision and focus for this year’s Real Estate Unite conference as ‘Looking inwards to fill the gaps’.

As industry professionals, we believe it’s time to blow the whistle and begin to look inwards as a great nation with huge potential. We must act fast and begin to exploit the potential that these critical areas, especially the housing sector bring; not only does it help to secure the nation’s tourism and leisure sector, it will help increase the Gross Domestic Product.

At Real Estate Unite conference, which holds in October in Lagos, our goal is to identify the gaps impeding progress in the key areas of the Nigerian economy and understand the new growth drivers in today’s local capacity and resource-driven market.

Nigerians are known to invest in real estate outside the country, how much of this has been recorded in recent times?

I must state that in real estate investing, location and not country of investment is important. It doesn’t matter where you decide to invest as far as the returns favour your investment. Real estate investing must be approached as a business with adequate cash flow planning. A true investor who has great knowledge about real estate understands that a period of downturn is a buyers’ market; hence, the best time to invest is now no matter the location.

What is your view about the glut of luxury properties in the market, while the country battles a huge housing deficit?

Developers must source and make use of data. The first point of call for any developer should be the planning authorities to ascertain the rate of approvals for the luxury or high-end properties in question. This information will prepare your sales strategy. Yes, we have a healthy demographic but what is our buying habit and power? What percentage of this power is resilient? There is indeed glut in the luxury property market, likewise the Grade A office sub-sector. There is a high rate of unsold and unleased properties today. Are you aware that we have also witnessed developments where demand outweighs supply?  Planning must be airtight with strategic sales and exit plans. On the other hand, the housing deficit we face in Nigeria today is self-induced and both the private and public sectors have individual roles to play.

Recently, the price of cement was reviewed upwards and some stakeholders are against the increase. What’s your take on this?

Nigeria as a country must embrace the use of technology. Imagine if you didn’t have an elevator to take you from the ground floor of the Burj Khalifa to the topmost floor of the world’s tallest building, how long in your opinion will it take a man to reach the top floor if Elisha Otis did not invent an elevator in 1852? Are there alternative building technologies?  Use them.

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