The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has successfully inducted over 110 New Corporate Members to add to the over 3,000 existing member sof the Institute from across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT with a charge to the new members to ensure that they continue to develop themselves through training and retraining opportunities leading to qualification for licensing.
The Institute also called on Government to discourage “The idea of federal and state ministries’ involvement in direct construction of houses… while housing agencies should be saddled with the implementation of housing targets on short, medium and long term plans”.
This was disclosed by the President, Nigerian Institute of Building, Builder Prof Yohana Izam FNIOB, during a commemorative event to mark the 2023 Builders Day on Tuesday 29th March 2023 with the theme “An Agenda for Housing Development for Nigeria: 2023 in Perspective”.
Though the event held virtually, the President of NOIB Prof Yohana Izam and the National Publicity Secretary Daniel D Sani held a press briefing at the GOSA Secretariat in Jos the Plateau State Capital to commemorate the 2023 Builders Day, shortly before the induction of her new members by Barrister Oguagua Ojeh who administered the oath of allegiance to the new members.
Prof Izam while address journalists congratulated Nigerians “… On the conduct of relatively peaceful general elections in the country, which has produced new sets of leaders at the national and subnational levels to continue the task of nation building from 29th May 2023”, while equally praying for a smooth transition.
Prof Izam used the opportunity to call for the “Reinforcement of the ongoing National Skills Qualification Framework to boost the construction sector, eradicate unemployment and enhance the national economy”.
He noted that the much needed job creation targets by the incoming administration can only be realized through the stimulation of the housing sector. He added that studies have shown that “…the job creation potential for housing sector in Africa ranges from 2 to 6 direct jobs and 3 to 9 indirect jobs per unit of housing”.
He added “Another key point to stress is the value that unlocking the housing sector creates in the area of inclusion by promoting job opportunities for not only Builders, Architects and Engineers but also craftsmen such as plumbers, welders, electricians, painters and carpenters etc”. He called on the leadership of the incoming administration across Nigeria to take advantage of these potentials.
While lamenting the incidences of the past where buildings collapsed and claimed lives, Prof Izam noted that the Institute made concerted efforts to visit the various building collapse sites within Plateau State, and in all the site no single Builder was found on site.
According to the Institute, a total of 465 building have collapsed within the last four decades across major cities in Nigeria due to a range of factors that border on poor regulation of production management, use of substandard materials, illegal alterations to existing buildings and activities of quacks.
The institute noted with sadness the event of 13th March 2019 which witnessed the collapse of a five storey building at 63, Massey Street, Ita Faaji, Lagos State, in which 20 school children lost their lives, adding that the country has not stopped witnessing the collapse of buildings with attendant loss of lives and property.
Nigeria Star News 