Collaboration, Solution To Building Collapse, Say SON DG, Others

Thereis a need for  collaboration among regulators, associations, consumer advocates,  media and others in the building and construction sector to avoid building collapse, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Director-General, Osita Aboloma.

Aboloma spoke at the Builders Congress organised by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) in Abuja.

The event’s theme was: “Standardisation and innovative technologies for sustainable development in Nigeria’s construction Industry”.

Aboloma noted that there was also a need for national standards for materials in the built sector.

He urged professionals to adhere to them in the interest of the nation and its people.

In the paper titled: “Standardising materials, products and processes,” he said SON was rejiging the National Standardisation and Quality Assurance Committee for the Building and Construction Industry for effective performance.

This is to address issues on standards development, review, adoption, implementation and enforcement, he added.

Aboloma, represented by the Head of Construction Management, Paul Oke, an engineer, said the organisation was tackling the circulation of substandard products  through its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) and the Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) for local and imported products.

Aboloma noted that the SON Act of 2015 empowers the agency to seize substandard products and prosecute culprits who produce or sell such products.

In his keynote address, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) urged professionals to the take advantage of the Presidential Executive Order 5  to prosecute quacks.

He charged CORBON members and others to  fashion a legislation to regulate their practice.

CORBON Chairman Prof Kabir Bala said the theme of the congress was informed by the recurring menace of building and structural collape.

The CORBON’s awards of excellence was conferred on some personalities, including the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola;  Minister of State Suleiman Hassan Zarma; Aboloma and Falana.

Others were Prof. Olumide Olasanya of Julius Berger  Nigeria Plc and Director-General, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, Prof. Danladi Matawal.

Source:The Nation