On Monday, March 10, Abdulkareem Babatunde Sulyman, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KWGIS), spoke out about the importance of making sure that all builders follow the proper rules and regulations to prevent building collapses.
He urged the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) to take stronger actions, including appropriate sanctions for any builders who are not registered, to protect people and properties.
During a visit by the NIOB team to his office, Sulyman explained that raising awareness is key to the success of the institute. He emphasized that KWGIS is ready to partner with the Kwara State Chapter of NIOB to ensure that building practices in the state meet global standards. “NIOB is the only recognized professional body for builders in Nigeria, supported by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON),” Sulyman said.
He also invited NIOB members to share their concerns and suggestions with him so that he could help push them forward to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for action.
Earlier in the meeting, Builder Folaranmi Kazeem Adekunle, Chairman of NIOB, and his team shared exciting news about the new Nigeria Building Code (NBC), which was recently passed by the National Assembly. They asked for the law to be adopted in Kwara State and called on Sulyman to help ensure it gets passed in the state’s House of Assembly.
Adekunle reminded everyone of the importance of the role that builders play in improving the quality of construction in the country. “The institute has been working hard to promote better building practices through various programs at the national and state levels,” he said. He also mentioned that National Builders Day is celebrated every year on March 13 to highlight the importance of good craftsmanship in building. “This year, as part of Builders Day activities, several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will visit selected places to raise awareness about the day,” he added.
However, Adekunle pointed out a concerning issue—many engineers working on government construction projects do not include professional builders in their teams. He asked Sulyman to help solve this problem by making sure that builders are always involved in these projects.
