The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has inaugurated a national building code advisory committee (NBCAC) to reposition Nigeria’s building and construction industry on a solid standards, regulations, and professionalism foundation.
The minister of state for housing and urban development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, inaugurated the committee yesterday at the ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja. Ata reiterated that the need to evolve a National Building Code arose due to the absence of town planning, the Incessant collapse of buildings, infernos, built environment abuse, and other disasters.
Hon. Ata said other reasons that necessitated the birth of NBCAC included the dearth of referenced design standards for professionals, the use of non-professionals and quacks, the use of untested products, and the lack of a maintenance culture.
The minister emphasised that the National Building Code is one of the most important regulatory instruments for Nigeria’s built environment, adding that at its core, the Code sets minimum standards on pre-design, design, construction, and post-construction stages to ensure quality, safety, and proficiency of the building industry. He also stressed that the inaugurated Committee will ensure that every Nigerian home, office, school, hospital, and place of assembly is built to specifications that guarantee safety, durability, and sustainability.
“The reconstitution of this Advisory Committee is a strategic step to safeguard lives, protect investments, and rebuild confidence in our construction sector.
The rising incidents of building collapses, substandard practices, and environmental hazards demand a regulatory system that commands compliance and promotes sustainability.”
“As a government, we remain committed to delivering safe, decent, affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable urban development. By enforcing the National Building Code, you are helping us create jobs, protect lives, secure property, and ensure that our cities grow harmoniously with safety, accessibility, and environmental sustainability, he said.
Earlier, the chairman of the Committee, Arc. Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja promised that the Committee would bring to bear their professional competence, integrity, and patriotic commitment to discharging the responsibility given to them.
While promising the minister that his Committee will not disappoint in their assignment, Faworaja emphasized that they would liaise with state governments to ensure that each state develops and domesticates its own building code.
