PROPERTY TRANSACTION GUIDE

SON backs building code bill as Lagos plans regional development agencies
By Chinedu Uwaegbulam

Guardian, Monday, 4th May 2009

AGAINST growing concern over the rising spate of building collapse in the country, federal and Lagos State regulatory agencies are seeking stricter adherence to standards and codes in the design and utilisation of building materials in project developments.

They claim that the problems encountered in the building industry are the result of inadequate enforcement of relevant standards and lack of quality building materials, as well as, the infiltration of the construction sector by quacks.

The Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority (LASSPDA) made their independent submissions at a discussion on Quality Assurance in Housing Delivery at the 9th Lagos Housing Fair, organised by Beachland Resources Limited and EKO FM.

SON Director General, Dr. John Akanya noted that the desire to cut corners by developers in order to maximise profit has become another monster that will need to be overcome if the interest of ensuring quality in the housing delivery is to be achieved.

He said, "quality assurance will remain a mirage unless Nigerians and layers in the built environment work in accordance to set guidelines and rules in housing development in the country. Although the situation has been compounded as a result of lack of quality consciousness, which is traceable to high level of poverty and low level of education in our society."

The General Manager, LASSPDA, Mr. Yusuf Alli, a town planner agreed that the incessant issue of collapse building could be reduced significantly, if the industry were to embrace the concept of quality assurance that has been of great success in other sectors of the economy.

He listed the causes of structural failures as inadequate foundation, lack of supervision, substandard materials, lack of building plan/non compliance with approval granted, land disputes, developers greed, lack of proper reinforcement, lack of soil tests, political interference, use of quacks, buildings that have outlived its serviceable period and overloading of existing building with additional floors.

Akanya, who was represented by Mr. Sunday Yashim, an engineer, canvassed for partnership with professionals in the built environment to lobby for the passage of the Bill at the National Assembly to enforce the application of the National Building Code for the construction industry.

He also recommended checking of the overbearing influence of clients in project development. "Most client relies on the saying that he who pays the piper dictates the tune to mount pressure on professionals purposely to cut corners."

Alli urged property owners to carry out proper investigation about construction method and ethics of a company before signing contracts with them. He also said that building owners can utilise construction quality assurance to assess the capabilities of the construction companies or developers as well as ensure jobsite quality audit periodically to ensure that quality is well managed and unnecessary risk is not accumulated that could jeopardise project delivery, leading to collapse.

He also disclosed of plans to create Regional Development Agencies to deal with land related matters in a defined region and establish a Building Control Agency, which sole function will be the proper monitoring of building construction by way of full involvement of the developer.

The LASSPDA chief recommended a "back to basics" approach for the construction sector by which the streamlined construction quality assurance programme needs to be developed with a goal to develop a system that captures the essence of quality assurance.

Earlier, Chairman, Lagos Housing Fair Board, Mrs. Tinu Aina-Badejo blamed the incessant collapse of building in most Nigeria cities on the use of inappropriate and substandard materials and engagement of quacks in building production management.