- 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.”