Reduce building collapse in Nigeria, Falana tasks builders

Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi
Falana, has urged members of the Council Of Registered Builders of
Nigeria to help reduce the spate of building collapse across the
country.

Falana, who was a guest speaker at the recent industry
conference organised by CORBON in Abuja, stated that the building
profession had not taken enough steps to rid its ranks of quacks
who parade themselves in the sector.

He further noted that the building industry had many foreign
professionals who were not qualified to handle building projects in
Nigeria, as they were not registered under CORBON.

He tasked the umbrella body of builders to take advantage of
provisions of the Builder Registration Act, adding that they should
also capitalise on the newly promulgated Presidential Executive
Order No 5 of 2018 to take control of the building industry.

Falana said, “In recognition of the fact that entrenching
science, technology and innovation in everyday life is key to
achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the
economy, particularly in science and innovation technology, the
Federal Government has committed itself to the promotion of
domestic and foreign investment and the creation of employment
opportunities.

“Accordingly, President Muhammadu Buhari on February 5, 2018
signed Executive Order No 5 for planning and execution of projects,
promotion of Nigeria content in contracts, science, engineering and
technology with a view to improving local contents in public
procurement in science and technology components.”

He said the executive order was a demonstration of Federal
Government’s efforts in promoting application of science and
technology across the country.

The Chairman, CORBON, Prof. Kabir Bala, said the conference was
initially conceived to serve as a platform to all stakeholders in
building development in the sector, including regulators,
professionals, craftsmen, artisans, building material
manufacturers, merchants, suppliers, clients, contractors,
students, etc.

He said stakeholders converged at the conference to discuss
issues affecting building industry, adding that “this forum is
designed as the meeting point of researchers to meet to critically
analyse and proffer solutions to address the challenges facing the
building sector which is a critical sector in the Nigerian
economy.”

Bala added, “CORBON was established in 1989 and since its
establishment, the council has been discharging its
responsibilities in order to take the building sector to a higher
level.”

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