A member of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, Mr. Oyinleye Adebowale, has identified non compliance with government policy on infrastructure as responsible for high cases of building collapse in Nigeria.
He also blamed the rampant building collapse on use of substandard materials, non participation or engagement of due professionals among other reasons.
Mr. Adebowale stated this at a two day workshop organized in Makurdi by the Nigerian Institute of Quanyity Surveyors, Benue State chapter. The theme of the workshop was “Impact of Infrastructure Development on Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.”
According to him, it was the responsibility of development control units of governments to inspect and enforce development policies to ensure quality and standard structures in the society.
He advised that as part of development procedures and building approval process, a building approval and bill of quantities should be requested to ensure that the developer had the resources to put up the structures.
“You discover that there is a lot of abandoned project because along the line, the developer doesn’t have the money to complete the project because probably, the person didn’t know how much he needed.”
He said government must ensure the enforcement of engaging the services of due development professionals rather than getting a bricklayer to do the job of an engineer.
The state Chairman of NIQS, Mr. Joseph Akwu Amanyi, while welcoming participants, acknowledged that the infrastructural deficit across all sectors of the Nigerian economy was alarming.
He urged his members to come up with opinions that would assist governments in implementing its infrastructural and economic growth plan.
“As policy makers and professionals in various sectors, whose activities have direct bearing on infrastructural development, we are in a better position to assist government in achieving its goals and objectives in that direction.”
He urged governments, clients and all policy makers to take advise from professionals very seriously while he encouraged his members to continue to demonstrate professional competence to give the society best services.
