The Nigerian Institute of Building has warned contractors against engaging quacks in building construction.
This was as the institute said it had volunteered to monitor project constructions in the state as part of its efforts to prevent building collapse in the state.
Rivers State Chairman of NIOB, Ugo Ohuabunwa stated this when he led members of the institute to the site of the collapsed seven-storey building in Woji Road, Port Harcourt which claimed many lives in 2018.
Ohuabunwa said the institute would continue to carry out awareness and advocacy programs in the area of property development.
He said the cause of the collapsed seven-story building was because no professional builder was engaged in the construction of the project.
Ohuabunwa said the Institute was meeting with some government officials of the State Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning and leadership of the State Assembly to domesticate the National Building Code in the State.
He boasted that no building under the supervision of a professional builder had ever collapsed, stating that such travedy was avoidable if a professional is duly engaged during project construction.
“NIOB is not an enforcement organ, what we can do is to create awareness and advocacy and sensitise the Public to always engage a builder in project construction as well as draw the attention of the Government to drive the building code which is the guiding law for building construction.
“This will make it compulsory for Professionals to handle their specific roles in building construction. We are fighting it from National and Local levels to ensure that the building codes are enforced during building construction”, he stated.
He further said the responsibility of checking adherence to standard building guidelines in order to check emergency situations was not only that of the government but also rests with the owner who should ensure that quacks are not engaged in developing their property.
He added hat the Institute was working hard to see that there should be a penalty for offenders who do not abide by the National Building Code.
He,however, commiserated with the families of those who lost loved ones during the unfortunate incident, assuring that the Institute would intensify its advocacy programs to create awareness against using quacks in property development.
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