Expert Urges NASS To Enact Law That Will Check Building Collapse
By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The National Assembly has been called upon to enact a law that would empower the government to stop and take over any building that fails to comply strictly with stipulated regulations during construction.
A town planner and retired Permanent Secretary in Kwara State, Mallam Bolakale Yusuf, opined that such law, if and when enacted would put an end to incessant building collapse in the country.
Yusuf added that such law would also checkmate builders and developers who may want to cut corners and violate building laws while putting up structures, lamenting that a lot of innocent lives and properties had been lost to building collapse, largely caused by the failure of developers to adhere to regulations guiding construction works.
Stressing the need for the engagement of only professionals and qualified people at all stages of construction to ensure quality job, he recommended the unbundling of the state Town Planning Development Authorities as also a way out of incessant building collapse and development of not properly organised urban centres across the country.
Yusuf added that the unbundling of the agency into State Physical Planning Authorities and State Development Control Agencies at state levels would ensure effective and efficient housing delivery across the state.
He also identified the use of substandard materials and lack of proper consultation before acquisition of land as factors also responsible for building collapse, urging the state government to continue to demonstrate genuine political will, in ensuring that the proposed Ilorin Master Plan sees the light of the day.