The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has asked all Nigerian states to create and strictly follow building rules that suit their local needs. This is to help keep people safe and ensure building professionals do their jobs properly.
The NIOB President, Mr. Alderton Ewa, made this request during a press briefing in Abuja before the institute’s 55th Annual Builders’ Conference.
The conference will take place from August 19 to 22 in Ebonyi State.
The theme of the conference is “Advancing Builders’ Knowledge and Skills for Effective Enforcement of Building Regulatory Laws for Sustainable Development.” It shows the institute’s goal of improving builders’ skills, enforcing rules, and encouraging sustainable building in Nigeria.
Mr. Ewa said safe and long-lasting buildings depend not just on having laws, but on making sure those laws are followed properly.
He explained that builders are one of the seven officially recognized professionals in the construction industry. Builders are responsible for making sure that all parts of a building project meet approved designs, quality standards, and legal rules.
Sadly, Mr. Ewa noted that building collapses and poor construction are still big problems. These often happen because rules are not enforced well or there is no professional supervision.
He said the upcoming conference will try to fix these issues by helping builders improve their skills, talking about better policies, and working more closely with other professionals.
He mentioned that while some states have started enforcing building rules, others are still working on creating them.
Mr. Ewa said it is important for all states to use these laws. He also mentioned that the NIOB is worried about the poor quality of construction materials.
To help solve this, NIOB has started building a skills laboratory in Lugbe, where building materials can be tested during construction work.
The NIOB president also called for more involvement of qualified professionals in building design and town planning.
He said it was unfortunate that the Nigerian Building Code (NBC), which sets important standards for safe and proper construction, has still not been passed by the Senate since it was proposed in 2006.
The NBC covers key areas such as strong building structures, fire safety, energy-saving design, and making buildings accessible to everyone.
Mr. Ewa said the delay in passing these important laws has allowed unqualified people to operate in the industry. That is why some states have made their own laws to stop building collapses.
He concluded by saying that with the right laws, material testing, professional supervision, and discipline in the industry, the country’s building sector will improve greatly.
