All is in top gear for the hosting of the newly rebranded 17th edition of the Lagos housing Fair, taking place between May 2 and 5 in Ikeja, Lagos.
The theme of the fair is ‘Quality management in housing delivery’, according to the Chairman, Lagos International Housing Fair Board, Mr. Moses Ogunleye was picked due to the need to again put our searchlight on the production of quality buildings for housing accommodation.
Specifically, we intend to direct attention to the nation and indeed the global scene to matters of safe, reliable, functional and comfortable houses,” he said.The has asked the government to engage consultants from the private sector to monitor building construction across the country.
He said regulatory agencies seemed overwhelmed and should be assisted by other critical stakeholders in the sector.
Ogunleye, who spoke at a forum to announce the upcoming Lagos International Housing Fair, said there was a need to make the country deliver quality houses and be self-sufficient in the production of building materials.
Ogunleye stated that the spate of building collapse across the country, particularly in major cities, was indicative of the need to refocus attention on matters of safety in housing development.
He added, “It is even more worrisome to note that a large number of collapsed buildings in the country are residential, with the attendant loss of lives. The nation may witness more calamities if efforts are not geared towards quality assurance.
“One of the questions that is of concern to us is to what extent has government at the federal, state and local levels facilitated the achievement of quality related goals, objectives and strategies. Another is to what extent are other stakeholders, particularly the private estate developers and individuals, concerned about building quality homes?”
He said the fair, which is in its 17th edition, would look beyond building collapse and examine issues of production, sourcing and usage of materials as well as maintenance.
The Secretary, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mr. Jide Oke, said the National Building Code should be driven down to the local government level in order to make it more effective.
Oke said the government should also find a lasting solution to the issue of importation of almost all the building materials needed for housing construction in the country.
By Ijeoma Nwachukwu
