By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Lagos State Government has announced that it is taking proactive measures to address the rising population of the state by providing quality mass housing. The State Commissioner for Housing, Mr Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, made this announcement at the 4th Edition of the Builders’ Business Workshop organised by the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) in Ikeja.
The theme of the combined physical/virtual workshop was “Building Surveying Practice, Charting a New Course in Building Post Construction Services in Lagos”. Akinderu-Fatai stated that the daily influx to the state was widening the shelter gap, hence the ongoing efforts to construct high-rise buildings without losing sight of quality. He added that the state government was introducing vertical construction while ensuring safety, cost, and quality.
Akinderu-Fatai disclosed that the government had introduced various housing schemes and partnerships to close the shelter gap. He noted that some residents were not interested in owning houses, hence the ongoing efforts for housing schemes for rent only. The commissioner revealed that the rentage laws were being examined to make it attractive for the private sector to inject funds into housing schemes.
The Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Malam Farouk Salim, also addressed the workshop. Salim lamented what he described as disturbing statistics of building collapse, with Nigeria topping the chart in Africa and Lagos accounting for 60 per cent of them in the nation. He called for the prosecution of building collapse offenders to ensure compliance with quality. Salim commended the leadership of NIOB Lagos State Chapter for organising the workshop to boost the capacity of professionals.
He advised builders to use the knowledge from the workshop to carry out a post-construction building survey for Lagos State towards taming building collapse. Salim emphasized that the survey practices and procedures for building and post-construction services are essential aspects of the construction industry to ensure that buildings are constructed and maintained in line with international best practices, thereby promoting public safety and improving the lives and security of the citizens of Nigeria.
The government’s efforts towards providing quality mass housing will not only address the increasing shelter gap but also contribute to the growth and development of the state’s economy. The government’s collaboration with professionals in the built environment will ensure that buildings are constructed and maintained in line with international best practices, thereby promoting public safety and improving the lives of the citizens of Lagos State.