The Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos State chapter, David Majekodunmi, has said that the domestication of the National Building Code which stakeholders are advocating for will advance the use of gas in the construction industry.
Majekodunmi said the built environment was fully prepared to take advantage of the efficiency offered by the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) right from the conception of a building.
He spoke in Lagos State when he featured in a panel discussion during the 15th year anniversary lecture organised by the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA).
Majekodunmi was of the view that gas penetration in Nigerian households was still very low and expressed optimism that with more collaboration with stakeholders in the built environment gas could form part of building designs, especially in the kitchen.
He said, “The construction industry is fully aware of the efficiency that the LNG offers and is for us to collaborate because in most cases it is after the design and everything has been done, the construction is ongoing or has been completed, that is when you see them talking about it. But we need to be involved from the onset.
“The National Building Code is in four parts: pre-design, design, construction and post-construction. And it is not the matter of you coming in at the post-construction or at the construction or the design. We need to collaborate from the pre-design stage.”
He explained that for a residential building, there should be an understanding with the clients on the efficiency offered by gas.
He said, “The built environment in Nigeria is advocating the domestication of the National Building Code. Now what does the National Building Code say? It gives the minimum requirement in terms of the interiors to be used, in terms of the labour, the workmanship to be used in terms of quality.”
