Two years from now, Nigeria’s National Building Code will be 20 years old. The National Building Code is a document that was enacted in 2006 by the then Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Olusegun Mimiko, and signed into law in 2007 by the civilian regime of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo after a series of building collapse in Nigeria.
The government as at that time felt that there was need to put a stop to the incessant collapse through the building code, which encompasses various aspects, including structural integrity, fire safety measures, electrical installations and accessibility standards, and is meant to be a regulatory framework that ought to be implemented by the seven regulatory bodies of the built environment.
But for now, two years ahead of the 20th anniversary of the code, this has not been happening. Compliance with these regulations is crucial to safeguarding public health, protecting property, and promoting sustainable development.
For every building that collapses, all these seven professional bodies are liable in my opinion because the code outlines responsibilities for each of them.
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For these professionals, who include engineers, planners, estate surveyors, land surveyors, architects and builders, controlling development is a multi-disciplinary activity and each of them should look at the content of the building code to the extent of their professional responsibility.
Also, the question is that, are the development control departments and urban planning authorities in the federal agencies and various states insisting on strict adherence to the National Building Code?
In addition, informal construction practices and a lack of awareness about building regulations among stakeholders contribute to non-compliance and pose challenges in enforcing the building code, making it a toothless bulldog of sorts.
Lack of enforcement capacity within government agencies, too poses significant challenge in ensuring compliance with building regulations in Nigeria.
If the National Building Code is implemented according to the way it was designed, then there lies the solution to the incessant building collapse in Nigeria.
Esv. Adamu Kasimu is an Abuja-based Estate Surveyor and Valuer
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