By Grace Alegba
The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) on Friday said its 2022 Lagos Builders’ conference targets elimination of building collapse in the state by bringing together the complete circle of construction stakeholders.
Mr Philip Olusesanayo, Chairman, Planning Committee of the 2022 Builders’ Conference, said this at a pre-event press briefing in Lagos organised by the Lagos Chapter, NIOB to announce the programme.
Olusesanayo said a recent media report revealed that 84 Lagos residents lost their lives to the menace within two years, hence the need to urgently arrest the situation.
He said population influx brought a boost in the real estate sector, and instead of reaping blessings, it had brought challenges because of gaps in construction and real estate transactions, which the conference would address.
The committee chairman said the 31st Lagos Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting coming up on Oct.19 and Oct. 20 at Lekki would address all the gaps.
He said the conference themed, “The Shifting Landscape – Redefining the Real Estate Industry” would have in attendance all the seven built environment professional bodies, manufacturers, regulators, ministries and agencies of government.
Others include developers, suppliers, research institutions, top government officials, regulatory bodies, royal fathers, investors and financiers, mortgage bakers, among others.
He said Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu would be a special guest while his Special Adviser on Housing, Chief Toke Benson-Awoyinka would deliver the Keynote.
Olusesanayo, who is the Treasurer of the NIOB, reeled out problems causing collapse and housing deficit which would be addressed.
He commended efforts of the Lagos State Government to forestall incessant building collapse but added that the government could not do it alone without the private sector and profesionals.
The committee chairman said stakeholders would be able to interact to remove misconceptions and misunderstanding between the relevant regulatory agencies, financiers and other industry players in the building sector.
He said that the conference would also showcase reputable Real Estate companies and Developers, Building Materials companies, vendors and suppliers and new technologies.
Earlier, Chairman, Lagos Chapter, NIOB, Mr Lucky Isename, said the institute would continue in its advocacy drive for entrenchment of right values in the building sector.
Isename, while commending efforts of the Lagos State Government, said if the right steps were not taken from start, things must go wrong no matter the extent of regulations.
Immediate past Chairman, Mr Sunday Wusu, explained the sub themes of the conference, which were targeted at bridging shelter gap.
Wusu listed them to include, mortgage integration, local content as tool for effective housing delivery, insurance, responsible investing, insurance buffers, how builders should operate in the market, among others.
He lamented that the last person that caused building collapse in Lagos has relocated from the country because of lack of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria.
Mr Mubarak Gbajabiamila, a former treasurer of the association, called for enforcement of local content and introduction of alternatives to make construction cheaper.
Gbajabiamila urged the government to invest in commercialisation of local content so that housing delivery can be cheaper in Lagos. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle
