Rivers
RSG Partners Building Institute To Check Quackery
The Rivers State Government has pledged partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Building to check quackery in the building profession as a way of reducing incidents of building collapse in the State.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, who made the pledge when a delegation of the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Building paid him a courtesy visit in his office, said the partnership also aims to promote professionalism and adherence to building standards.
Describing the spate of building collapses in the State as worrisome, Bipi attributed the causes to use of substandard building materials and failure by site engineers to adhere to standards and regulations of the building industry.
The Commissioner said findings by the Ministry also revealed that property owners are complicit in the recent building collapses in the State for prioritizing cost-cutting over safety and quality standards.
He said some property owners hire unqualified site engineers and foist substandard building materials on them to cut corners.
The Commissioner acknowledged that as key stakeholder in the building industry, the Nigerian Institute of Building plays a crucial role in reducing incidents of building collapse in the society by ensuring that only qualified professionals practice in the industry.
He further said the Institute of Building can also contribute through advocacy and public enlightenment on the dangers of building collapse and adherence to safety standards in building sites.
Hon. Bipi assured that the Ministry is poised in partnering with more professional bodies in the industry to curb the menace of building collapse in the State.
He also informed his guests that he has reconstituted the Compliance Committees of the Ministry to effectively monitor building sites across the State and enforce compliance with the building law and regulations of the State as part of measures to address the issue of building collapse.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Rivers State Chapter, Mr. Abah Adejoh, suggested that Construction Methodology, Project Quality Management Plan, as well as Project Health and Safety become mandatory requirements for property developers seeking building plan approval from the State Government.
He stated that this will enhance compliance with safety and regulatory standards, while also facilitating accountability in the event of a building collapse.
Mr. Adejoh advised property developers to insist on hiring qualified site engineers or Licensed Builders rather than quack engineers in order not to compromise the structural integrity of their buildings and put lives at risks.
He said, “prioritizing cost-cutting over safety and quality standards is an unwise decision that can lead to far greater losses”.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Building also asserted that unlike medical negligence, building negligence has far-reaching and devastating consequences including loss of multiple lives, widespread destruction, long-term displacement and psychological trauma, hence the need to hire certified site engineers.
He further stated that to prevent compromise of the structural integrity of buildings, site engineers must insist on maintaining standards and quality, no matter the pressure from property owners to cut costs.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Surv. Wisdom Hebron, Directors, Town Planners and other Senior Staff of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development were in attendance at the courtesy visit.
Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso