NIOB Urges National Building Code Bill Passage

The President of the
Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr Tunde Lasabi, has urged the National Assembly to pass the National building code into law.
Lasabi told newsmen in Lagos that the absence of a national building code was the cause of the rising incidence of building collapse in the country.
According to him, since the code had yet to be passed, it was impossible to pinpoint who was at fault when a building collapsed.
“Part of the achievements of the built environment over the years was the preparation of the building code.
“The building code is like a Bible in the industry. It shows the role each professional is supposed to play in the scheme of things within the industry.
“That is why we are saying that the National Assembly should please pass it into law,” he said.
Lasabi said that many things had been happening in the industry now that the code has not been passed into Law by the National Assembly.
He said that the law establishing the Council of Registered Builders recognised the builder as a professional, who was expected to manage the production process of buildings.
“Where you do not have the builder doing this, then there is a problem and that is a challenge so far in the country today,” he said.
The NIOB president said that even the Building Code Section 13, 12, 4 states that the supervision of artisans and craftsmen rests on the shoulder of the builders.
“When the building collapses, you lose money, you lose lives, you lose everything,” he said.
Lasabi said it was the reason the NIOB had been at the forefront of ensuring that the building  code was passed into law.
He added that with the right professionals involved in the handling of building projects, things would change drastically for the better in the industry.