President of the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), QS Obafemi Oluwole Onashile, has called for the establishment of a Building and Engineering Commission (BEC) to regulate the Nigerian construction market and tackle the menace of quackery.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Quantity Surveyors Assembly and induction of new members in Abuja, Onashile said the construction industry currently operates as an open market, allowing unqualified individuals to parade themselves as professionals.
He stressed that the proposed commission should comprise nominees from various regulatory bodies in the sector, including representatives of the Federal Ministers of Housing and Works.
Onashile described the 2006 Building Code as defective and not implementable, noting that nearly two decades after its enactment, it still lacks full adoption due to structural issues.
“The building code has not been fully adopted. Some parts are procedural and cannot be made into law,” he said.
He argued that only a central commission could effectively enforce industry standards, regulate actors, and sanitize the market.
“We must move beyond regulating professions in isolation and begin to regulate the entire market,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa—represented by QS Pemi Temitope—assured that the Federal Government is committed to implementing reforms that promote transparency, professionalism, and accountability in the housing and construction sector.
He said the ministry aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through initiatives like Renewed Hope Cities and Estates, slum upgrades, and public-private partnerships aimed at reducing the housing deficit.
Dangiwa added, “For these investments to yield impact, there must be corresponding technical capacity, professional ethics, and institutional collaboration.”
Onashile concluded by urging all stakeholders to unite in establishing the commission to ensure only certified professionals operate in the construction market and uphold quality standards across the value chain.
