Minister laments building materials quality

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has challenged Nigerian builders to come up with  building construction innovation  that would not only stand the test of time but would also be suitable for the tropical weather conditions in  Nigeria.

Speaking at the investiture ceremony of the 20th President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) Kunle Awobodu on Thursday in Abuja, the minister, who was the chairman of the ceremony, lamented that the quality of building materials used in today’s buildings are not suitable for Nigerian weather conditions. He observed that for instance, the corrugated roofing sheets widely used in Nigeria easily becomes rusted due to the tropical sunshine. And when it rained, the pounding sound of the rains makes the noise inside the houses unbearable.

The minister also pointed out that there were bound to be adverse health implications in the quality of building materials used which have not yet been fully made known to Nigerians.

The Deputy Chairman House Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning, Arc. Ibrahim Almustapha Aliyu, who represented the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the lawmakers would accelerate passage of the enabling Act for the enforcement of the National Building Code to address the building collapse crisis in the Nigerian built environment.

President of NIOB, Kunle Awobodu, said the new leadership of the Institute will prioritize safety of men and buildings above other interests while collaborating with all stakeholders for orderliness and professionalism in the built environment.