NIOB Tasks RVHA On Physical Planning Laws

The Nigerian Institute of
Building (NIOB), Rivers State chapter has called on the Rivers State House of Assembly to review and amend the state Physical Planning Laws 2004.
The State Chairman of NIOB, Builder Moses Ugheoke who made the call while presenting his end of year report of the chapter, said that the review and amendment of the laws became imperative to reflect modern day realities, and explained that building projects is a collaborative and team work approach which experts and professionals have traditional roles of engagement in building projects delivery.
Builder Ugheoke called for synergy from other professional bodies to drive the review and amendment of the physical planning laws, stating that the laws are obsolete and outdated, which do not meet the present day realities on ground and that there are problems arising from building construction.
The chairman said the review of the planning laws would help end some cases of the building collapse and would force professionals in the building project to sit up and take responsibility for their mistakes in event of building collapse.
He regretted that most Nigerians, including government institutions, ignore the building code, informing that a bill is before the National Assembly to sanction and prosecute offenders who ignore the National building code.
According to him,’’ People have taken advantage because the laws are not enacted and passed to cut corners.
‘’ If the proper laws are put in place, dishonorable and unprofessional persons would not go into building projects. If they go in, the law will take its course’’, he said.
Ugheoke regretted that he has tried to engage government institute to always do the right thing by engaging builders, but they give listening ears only when building collapses, which ought not to be.
‘’It is sad that in various projects that government is doing, government does not go out full blast to engage builders who are by the ‘Nigeria Building Code’ assigned the responsibility and role to supervise building projects in the country’’, he said.
He said the NIOB sees this oversight as not proper, adding that the Institute, from the national to the local chapters, has at various times, tried to engage government.