To put an end to the incidence of building collapse, the Nigerian Institute of Building has called on the government to enforce relevant laws governing construction of buildings in the country.

The President, NIOB, Mr. Tijani Shuaib, said at the Building Construction and Machinery Exhibition that professionals in the built environment should share part of the blame for structural failures by allowing the use of substandard products in building construction.

He said, “One of the factors responsible for building collapse is the use of inferior and substandard products. If we allow substandard materials to be used, many buildings will not stand the test of time. Professionals in the sector have roles to play to stop the trend.

“We have our own shortcomings too in terms of design and construction, but as a body, we are working hard to ensure that standards are being followed. Government also needs to ensure they enforce laws that can give us the power to stop a building project that does not comply with standards.”

The Managing Director, Atlantic Exhibition, organisers of the event, Mr. Ayo Olugbade, said the fourth edition in its series was an opportunity for businessmen to develop the nation and bring investment opportunities to the country.

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The Nigerian Society of Engineers has called on the political class to appoint professionals as heads of engineering-related Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

It kicked against the non-appointment of engineers by successive governments to head the relevant MDAs, stressing that meaningful development would only be achieved when the right persons occupied strategic positions in the country.

Speaking at the 2016 edition of the Otis Anyaeji Annual Lecture in Abuja, the Chairman, NSE Maitama Branch and host of the event, Mr. Israel Abraham, said most appointments made by government generally did not favour engineers.

“This means that there is something wrong, which is why we often do not get concrete and sound outcomes. The ingredients needed to get the required development in the country have not been added to together. Therefore, we need to ask ourselves what exactly is the disconnection and as well find a solution in order to come up with an answer to bridge this gap in order to bring the required development that we seek as a nation.”

Abraham also called for the split of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, stressing that the portfolios were too much for one person to shoulder as a minister.

He stated, “Having one man to head more than one ministry is not right. Although he may have assistants, the truth is that the work will be too much; and mind you, the functions in these ministries are engineering-related.

“That again is why it is important to have an engineer to head engineering-related ministries, so that you don’t have to completely rely on what you are being told by your assistants.”

The keynote speaker at the event, Mr. Mustafa Shehu, also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider unmerging the three ministries that were given to Mr. Bababtunde Fashola.

“How can you merge three ministries and give them to one person? That experiment is not working and it won’t work. There are capable hands in Nigeria, for just as we have security problems or emergency, that is how we have infrastructural emergency in Nigeria today. A lot of work needs to be done,” he said.

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