Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore has played host to the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) on a courtesy visit to his office, and pledged enhanced working Collaboration and culture of hardwork with the institute.
Dr Belgore expressed delight over the visit and the pledge of closer collaboration by the NIA, assuring that the Ministry would give all necessary support to the institute to ensure high standard in the construction industry.
While showing concern over the dispute preventing the registration of architects over a period close to 10 years, Dr. Belgore promised to double effort to ensure resolution of all issues in no distant time.
“Next week we are going to Lagos for a retreat. I’m sure you would get an invitation to be part of it, perhaps while there, we will resolve all this in the meeting and sort everything out so that our children can get registered,” he stated.
Reacting on closing the housing deficit, sustainable urban planning, affordable housing and community engagements raised by the NIA, the Permanent Secretary noted that they are issues that aligned with the presidential deliverables of the Ministry and encouraged the partnership of the institute with the ministry in that regard.
On the other hand, Dr Belhore frowned at the menace of building collapses particularly in newer constructions, emphasizing on the need to improve the quality of building materials and adhering to standards in order to correct the hazard.
He disclosed that the Ministry is looking into the standardizing certification for artisans into construction, “we are building schools and we want to have a situation where every artisan has a certification”.
Accordingly, the Permanent Secretary explored the possibility for the ministry establishing an agency for building material standards that would be saddled with the issuance of building material standard certificates.
Belgore also emphasized the importance of team work in moving the Ministry and Country forward by providing excellent service to Nigerians.
Speaking earlier, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to addressing the nation’s housing and urban development challenges through strategic collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Arc Adeniyi emphasised the crucial role of effective partnership in solving Nigeria’s housing deficit, highlighting the readiness of the institute to introduce innovative designs, promote the use of sustainable materials, and enhance community engagement to create more inclusive and resilient urban spaces.
As part of efforts to ensure quality and safety in the construction industry, Adeniyi requested that the Building Materials Standards Organization be moved to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development from the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), saying that, it will strengthen regulatory oversight, tackle the proliferation of substandard building materials, and curb the increasing cases of building collapses across the country.
Signed
Salisu Badamasi Haiba
Director Press and Public Relations
