The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 said 82.4 per cent of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were tied to the construction industry, hence the need for more government attention.
Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of NIOB, Mr Sunday Wusu, said this at the 30th Lagos 2021 Builders’ Conference in Ikeja, organised by the Institute.
Wusu said the conference tagged: “Building Control Regulations and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Lagos State Reinvigorating Processes, Optimising Results” drew the attention of the state government to SDGs.
He said the success of national and global economies depended on the success of the SDGs, noting that 14 out of the 17 SDGs were dedicated to the building industry to underscore the importance of shelter to humanity.
He added that construction industry was connected to all other sectors and stimulated them to boost the nation’s economy.
Wusu said SDG 11 projected that by 2030 all countries would have achieved the yardstick of sustainable cities and communities to make shelter available to all.
The chairman commended the ongoing stage certification efforts of the Lagos State Government and re-launch of Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation to enforce the state’s planning laws.
“A critical look at the 17 SDG’s shows that 14 of the goals are directly tied to the construction industry – and this is a whopping 82.4 per cent.
“This clearly shows that the successful achievement of these goals by the set year 2030, largely depends on the local, national and global success of the construction industry,” he said.
The president of NIOB, Prof. Yohana Izam, represented by the second vice president, Mr Bimbo Kolade, stressed the need for building professionals to partner governments to ensure sustainability.
Izam warned against professionals colluding with developers to cut corners to compound incidences of building collapse in the nation.
He commended the Lagos State Chapter of NIOB for being trail blazers, making giant strides that other states were already emulating.
In his keynote address, Mr Samuel Opaluwah, immediate past Vice Chairman, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), charged the builders to chase away quacks from building sites to meet SDGs.
Opaluwah said this was important to stop or at least minimise building collapse in our country.
He noted that builders must enforce necessary measures of professionalism and international best practices to eradicate the menace.
He charged the builders to embrace innovation in building technology to provide home grown and locally sourced housing solutions to the country’s teeming population.
“Builders must embark on capacity building both at personal and corporate levels. We must be ready, equipped, committed and willing to deliver transparent professional service with competence and integrity,” he said.
Also, Mr David Majekodunmi, Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos State Chapter, charged the builders to continue to demand the domestication of the National Building Code before the National Assembly.
“It is pathetic that the National Building Code has not been passed into law by the National Assembly since 2008 that it was presented before it.
“The communique of the outcome of this conference should be more acceptable that it will push the government to do the needful, ” he said.
By Rukayat Adeyemi and Grace Alegba
