Skills development for construction workers and entrepreneurship in the industry should be given priority to stop buildings from collapse, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his Osun counterpart Rauf Aregbesola said yesterday.
They spoke at the 45th Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Building at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan.
Ajimobi said: “Developing the skills of artisans will also put a check to the incidents of collapsed buildings that are now a common feature in the construction industry.
“It is imperative for your institute and other professional bodies in the construction industry to come together to create a common platform and partner with governments at all levels and tertiary institutions to develop a more robust master plan for skills acquisition and development for the country.”
He decried cases of collapsed building in Nigeria, stressing that it was unimaginable that a country blessed with great potentials in its construction industry could experience such a problem.
The governor noted the death of 67 South African nationals in the building collapse at Synagogue Church of All Nations, which, he noted, has put the integrity and expertise of Nigerian builders to test.
He said the state government would continue to provide an enabling environment for the institute and other stake holders in the task of producing structurally stable and risk free buildings.
Aregbesola called for strict compliance to building rules and regulation to ensure a safe and beautiful environment.
Aregbesola vowed that his administration would not relent in its efforts at changing the face of the state through urbanisation.
The built environment, the governor said, is the crowning glory of all civilisation.
He noted that urbanisation was “very germane to his government economy rediscovery”.
In a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communication & Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon Aregbesola, the governor hailed the institute for identifying with the successes of his administration in Osun despite what he called targeted and sustained attacks and criticisms from opposition of his government over inability to pay salaries promptly.
Those, who also witnessed the event, included the President, Nigerian Institute of Building, Tunde Lasabi; former Head of Service of the Federation Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan Prof. Isaac Adewole and others.
The governor hailed the institute for its efforts at improving the environment and for imposing standard on building construction.
“An accompanying problem of regulation failure is building collapse, which has become a scourge of the cities. Buildings, even those still under construction, have been in freefall, sometimes killing people and causing grievous bodily harm.
“I have no doubt that these are of serious concerns to your body and you are seriously addressing it,” he said.
Aregbesola stressed that his administration has returned sanity to the built environment with the need to make buildings in Osun safe and create a beautiful environment at the same time.
He added that the urgent task before his administration was to renew the urban centres, upgrade the slums and build future cities. Through the renewal programme, we are transforming the urban centres into modern ones.
He noted that nine cities – Osogbo, Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Ikire, Ejigbo, Ede, Iwo, Ikirun and Ila-Orangun – are under the renewal exercise covering a kilometre radius from the Oba’s palace, regarded as the centre of town in each city.
Aregbesola pointed out that his administration has renewed negotiation with the UN-Habitat by paying counterpart fund of N100 million. Other cities, besides the initial nine, will receive similar attention in due course.
Ajimobi and Aregbesola were awarded with Honorary Fellowship award of the institute. Otunba Fatai Oshikoya was honoured with distinguished professional lifetime award.
