Experts Call for End to Rivalry in Building Industr
Experts in Nigeria’s real estate and construction sector have called for more cooperation and unity among professionals to solve the many problems facing the industry.
They said rivalry and lack of teamwork among builders, architects, engineers, and other professionals are slowing down growth in the sector.
The call was made at the two-day Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Lagos State chapter. The theme of the event was “Collaboration, Cooperation and Inclusiveness for Successful and Sustainable Building Delivery.”
Some of the problems discussed include substandard building materials, weak laws, building collapses, poor training of artisans, rising prices of materials, and the use of unqualified workers.
Vice President and Chairman, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), South West, Dr. Kunle Adeyemi, said professionals must work together to move the industry forward.
“We can’t continue working separately. The situation in the building sector is so bad that some construction quotations expire within a week due to price increases,” he said.
Adeyemi urged government to enforce the National Building Code in all states and encourage schools to teach students how to work together on real-life building projects.
Chairman of the event and Managing Director, Megamound Investment Limited, Mr. Olumide Osunsina, said successful projects require cooperation between government, communities, and the private sector.
“No single person or group can build a sustainable project alone,” he said, adding that government should make approval processes easier and promote partnerships that include sustainability goals.
Chairman of NIOB Lagos, Mr. Thomas Adeoye, said the theme was a reminder for everyone in the building sector to “think strategically, build responsibly, and collaborate deeply.”
Also, President of NIOB, Mr. Bimbo Kolade, represented by Third Vice President, Dr. Emmanuel Aladeloba, said building is a team effort that needs the input of many professionals.
Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Dr. Samson Opaluwah, represented by the Registrar, Mr. Adetunji Adeniran, said the council is already partnering with other organizations to improve professional skills and promote inclusiveness in the industry.
