Professionals back FG on Building Code review

Plans by the Federal Government to review  the National Building Code (NBC) of 2006, has received support from professional groups in the building and construction industry, describing the decision as appropriate of which is long overdue.

Experts opinion is that the National Building Code, as instituted by professional bodies in the construction industry in 2006, was supposed to be reviewed at five years intervals.

According to them, the review is in right direction, capable of developing and maximize the potentials within the nation’s housing and construction sector.

The comments were coming on the heel of the announcement by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola that a new National Building Code that would regulate construction with the aim of improving on measures, designed to eliminate incidences of building collapse and also to ensure that building construction in Nigeria meets international best practices.

Fashola, who made the announcement at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, during the inauguration of members of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), last week, noted that in view of number of deaths and the risk associated with wrong building plans, and other construction projects, “it became imperative for government to adopt measures to check the avoidable loss of lives and property, hence the new code,’’ the minister said.

Commenting on the development, President, Chartered Project Management Institute of Nigeria (CPMIN), Mr. Chucks Omeife said  the Federal government should propose an ‘Executive Bill’ to the National Assembly for an enabling law/legislation that would enforce the various provisions of the NBC, stating that passage of the bill would guarantee orderly and effective building environment.

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“In the real sense, it will expand the scope of the code in terms of professional responsibilities, expanding industry issues relating to materials, science and technology.

“The implementation and enforcement of the Code has been the problem and still remains the problem. It is a scenario of a motion without movement.

“This government can make the difference by putting in place an enabling legislation to back up the Code,” Said Omeife.

Another commentator, Mr Kenneth Ndukwu,who is the President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), urged stakeholders in the industry to have positive attitude for the expectations of the building code to be realised.

Ndukwu advised the stakeholders to continue to ensure full implementation of the code for a well-regulated and effective operation in the building and construction industry.

“The review and announcement of the new building code is a good development, but stakeholders still expect more. The issue of quackery, non-involvement of professionals, poor workmanship, use of untested/substandard materials and neglect of safety standards on construction sites that lead to building collapse will he checked,” he predicted.