Licensed professionals in the built sector have emphasized the importance of adhering to building codes, quality materials, and safety protocols, which are often neglected by quack builders, resulting in dangerous and poorly constructed buildings.
They presented a number of recommendations for addressing the problem, such as boosting financing for oversight organisations, setting up efficient monitoring units, offering ongoing professional training, holding public awareness campaigns, and making sure that building projects are only handled by qualified professionals.
Aisha, a resilient mother in Lagos, experienced a life-altering tragedy when her apartment building suddenly collapsed. She had moved into her new apartment with her two children, full of hope for the future.
However, within a year, cracks appeared, and the building showed signs of severe stress.
One tragic evening, as the family gathered for dinner, the building collapsed, burying Aisha and her children under the rubble.
Neighbours rushed to help, but the devastation was severe. Aisha lost her youngest child and sustained serious injuries.
Investigations revealed that the building was constructed by an unqualified builder using substandard materials and ignoring safety regulations.
Aisha’s heartbreaking story is not an isolated incident. Between 1974 and 2019, over 221 buildings collapsed across Nigerian cities, with Lagos alone witnessing 167 cases between 2000 and 2021, according to the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).
These collapses have displaced over 6,000 households and caused an estimated property loss of $3.2 trillion, the BCPG reports.
Widespread proliferation of quacks
In Nigeria’s building and construction sector, a troubling challenge persists the widespread proliferation of quacks.
These individuals engage in construction work without the necessary licenses, certifications, or expertise.
This includes graduates of professional courses who have yet to obtain relevant licenses and work without the supervision of a licensed expert.
An anonymous builder accredited by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) and practicing in Lagos for over a decade, highlighted that the quest for cheaper construction options has led to the rise of unqualified builders, resulting in critical issues.
He pointed out that licensed builders strictly adhere to building codes, obtain necessary permits, use proper techniques, conduct essential soil tests, and maintain strict safety protocols.
They collaborate with architects and engineers, ensure high-quality materials, and supervise the construction process to guarantee top-notch workmanship.
In contrast, he said quack builders cut corners, use substandard materials, neglect safety protocols, and lack proper planning and documentation, leading to unsafe and poor-quality construction. They often skip vital steps like soil testing, risking future structural failures and collapses.
Babatunji Adegoke, a licensed civil engineer and construction management advisor accredited by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), emphasized that unqualified individuals, not being licensed by relevant regulatory bodies, remain undocumented and unaccountable.
Adegoke recommended that the Federal Government consistently fund and increase financial support for regulatory bodies such as COREN, the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), ARCON, CORBON, and the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON).
He emphasized that the enhanced funding would enable these bodies to effectively combat the proliferation of quacks by regulating their respective fields and fulfilling their statutory responsibilities.
Adegoke also stressed the need for regulatory bodies to establish effective monitoring units to oversee professional practices and eliminate quackery.
Additionally, he recommended continuous training to enhance the capacity of professionals and strict enforcement of laws against practicing without proper qualifications or licenses.
The anonymous builder suggested the creation of neighbourhood alert systems for reporting observed poor construction works and buildings showing signs of structural failure. This, he argued, would help reduce the number of quacks handling building projects.
He also recommended regular public awareness campaigns on best building practices and the construction of good structures to achieve better standards, ensuring that citizens hire only duly licensed professionals.
He also advised that, given the insufficiency of state government officials to effectively monitor the construction industry, there should be a partnership between state governments and duly qualified and licensed private sector experts in the built environment industry.
This collaboration could help in monitoring, vetting development activities, and other related tasks to promote strict adherence to established rules and regulations in the construction industry.
