The Honorable Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, has issued a stern warning against the increasing trend of building collapses in Nigeria, emphasizing that the loss of lives and property due to such incidents is utterly unacceptable. Speaking on his official social media X handle, the Minister declared, “Building collapses resulting in the loss of lives and property are unacceptable under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I am committed to taking all necessary steps to address and curb the alarming recurrence of building collapses in our country.”
In a bid to enforce stricter regulations and prevent future tragedies, Arc Dangiwa underscored the need for a robust system that guarantees compliance with established standards throughout the building process. He stressed the importance of creating mechanisms to identify and prosecute those responsible for these failures, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to negligence and malpractice within the construction industry.
On Thursday, August 8, 2024, Minister Dangiwa convened a crucial meeting with the leadership of key regulatory bodies within the built environment sector to review recommendations presented by the Ministerial Committee on Building Collapse, which he recently established. The meeting brought together prominent stakeholders, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), the Town PlannersRegistration Council (TOPREC), the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), and other critical players in the industry.
Among the significant recommendations discussed were the reconstitution of the National Building Code Advisory with a mandate to push for the legal framework of the National Building Code at the National Assembly. The review of the Acts establishing ARCON, CORBON, and TOPREC was also highlighted, with the goal of making these bodies more effective in curbing quackery and other inappropriate practices. Additionally, the creation of a legal framework requiring developers to produce essential ProductionInformation documents, including the Project Quality Management Plan, Construction Programme, and Project Health and Safety Plan, was proposed. The implementation of punitive measures and sanctions for professional negligence, ensuring that State Planning/Development Control Departments or Agencies are staffed with competent professionals as approving officials, and mandating that contractors employ qualified professionals were identified as critical steps to enhancing safety standards in the industry.
Reflecting on the session, Minister Dangiwa described it as a “highly insightful strategic session” and expressed satisfaction with the valuable perspectives, previous studies, and recommendations shared by the leaders of the various regulatory bodies. He further tasked them with collaborating closely with the Ministerial Committee on Building Collapse to develop actionable steps that would lead to meaningful and lasting change in Nigeria’s construction landscape.
“We must act decisively to end the culture of impunity and negligence that has plagued our built environment,” the Minister asserted. “The safety of our citizens is non-negotiable, and we will not rest until we establish a system that guarantees it.”
Arc Ahmed Dangiwa’s resolve marks a significant step towards restoring confidence in Nigeria’s construction industry and ensuring that tragedies of building collapses become a thing of the past.
PIONEER NEWS 