Builder’s Institute Laments Undue Politicisation, Manipulative Interventions

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIoB) has decried the undue politicisation, manipulative interventions and lack of political will on the part of all levels of government to effectively enforce statutory provision that would professionally drive activities in the built environment sector.

This it said has exposed the built environment and the building industry to confused rhythms, wasteful resources deployment, dysfunctional delivery outcomes, compromised environmental and health safety, proliferation of sick buildings, resultant indulgence to high maintenance costs, the prevailing sickening culture of building collapses, and the pathetic loss of lives and values.

Bldr. Kenneth Nduka disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja during the induction of newly elected members of the Institute and his Investiture as the 20th President.

According to him, “the challenges of the building industry include, among others, spiralling population explosion, galloping inflation, dearth of artisans, ever evolving technology, invasion of the sector by quacks and charlatans, undue politicisation and manipulative interventions on otherwise professional roles and apparent lack of political will on the part of all levels of government to effectively situate and enforce statutory provision that will professionally drive activities in the built environment sector.”

He therefore urged the federal government to put in place definite policies that would ensure the engagement of local professionals and indigenous contractors so that benefits of greater involvement in development capacity of industry practitioners and policy making undertakings could be advantageously harvested.

Nduka said there is no doubt that the present change would impact on the way professionals operate, hence, the need for more standardised approach to ethics and the public interest, more inter-disciplinary education, greater control over the competence and quality of the service delivered, greater sharing of knowledge and more pooling of resources.

“My being invested today demands from me and my management team the responsibility to diversely manage the implications of this change. We shall therefore aim at targeting the perspectives of the change paradigm but with losing sight if the fact that some aspects of change process could veer off the intended trajectory.

“Such managed changes are inevitable in the period ahead, and must be met and where appropriate should be embraced or otherwise challenged. And if contrary to the public good or the wider interests of the industry in particular and the country at large, an alternative path should be sought,” the president stated.

However, Governor of Anambra state, Willie Obiano, his Nasarawa State counterpart, Umaru Almakura, former Minister of Housing, Amal People, the Founder and Convener of Abuja International Housing Show, Barr. Festus Adebayo, among others were among the awardees.

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