ASABA/Nigeria: Commissioner for Housing in Delta State, Chief Festus Ochonogor, has called for a sustainable advocacy on the consequences of quackery and substandard materials in the building industry in order to stem the incidences of building collapse in the country.
Ochonogor made the call while addressing a delegation of the members of the Delta State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Building who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba, the state capital.
He noted that quackery and substandard materials had contributed largely to the collapse of buildings, which in turn had put the competence of professional builders to question, insisting that the only way to deal with the situation was to let the public know the consequences of cutting corners in building constructions.
The Housing Commissioner sued for a robust synergy between builders and other professionals in the construction industry, adding that it was necessary to ensure the application of the relevant codes and regulations to guarantee standards in the building industry.
Ochonogor pledged the support of his ministry for the bill currently before the State House of Assembly for a law to regulate the activities of the building construction industry, assuring that the Nigerian Institute of Building in Delta State would enjoy the partnership of the housing ministry towards achieving set goals.
Earlier, the Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Building in the state, Mr Samuel Omiri, told the Housing Commissioner about the second edition of the Builders’ Day celebration, billed to hold on Saturday, March 13, 2021 in the state to commemorate the collapse of a 5-storey building in Lagos, which claimed the lives of over 20 pupils.
Omiri, who was represented by the Vice Chairman of the chapter, Mr. Roy Ononye, stated that the Builders’ Day was intended to highlight the need for excellence in the construction of buildings and other valuable infrastructure, so that they could stand the test of time.
He solicited the support of the commissioner for the Institute’s inputs in the bill for a law to provide for the administration of the Urban Development, Urban Renewal and Building Control Board, Local Planning Authority and other matters.
