Experts call for team work in building, construction sector

Some experts in the building, construction industry on Friday called for collaboration among professional bodies and operators for effective delivery of housing projects in the country.

The experts made the call at the ongoing Nigeria BuildExpo 2018 in Lagos.

According to them, with teamwork, the operators in the industry would achieve effective project delivery as well as eliminate quackery in the built environment profession.

Mr. Andem Ekpo-Bassey, the National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineer (NICE), said that activities of the quacks had caused great damages to the industry.

Ekpo-Bassey said that the safety and integrity of the industry was important and could be achieved through collective efforts of operators in the industry.

According to him, it is necessary that various professions in the built environment maintain their status, saying that job encroachment should be shunned in the industry.

He said that services of all the professions in the industry would be needed before the completion of a given housing or construction project.

” Even the services of the building artisans like carpenters, painters, brick-layers, iron-benders, plumbers, among others will also be needed in the course of execution of housing construction project.

“So, if you are a town planner, remain a town planner, do your layout and don’t dabble into other people’s areas of competence.

“A town planner will do the layout, after that, architects will take over the project from there, engineers and builders respectively will play their own roles on the project.

“It is not proper for professionals to dabble into jobs outside their fields. With collaboration, we will achieve effective project delivery as well as eliminate quackery in the built environment profession,” Ekpo-Bassey said.

Mr. Kunle Awobodu, the First Vice President of Nigerian Institute Building (NIOB), urged built environment professionals and participants to ensure adequate application of knowledge and materials showcased at the exhibition.

Awobodu said that new methodologies, materials, knowledge, among others used in the built environment, were exhibited, saying that the exhibition was a platform for networking among the participants.

While he urged operators in the industry to move along with the changing technologies to remain relevant, Awobodu lamented that participants sometimes failed to apply the new practices from workshops.

“To be successful, there is need for constant training to be acquainted with new trends and technologies of global best practices of the profession,” he said.

He also emphasised the use of standard building materials in project execution, as standard building materials would determine durability of buildings.

Reports show that building materials are an established industry in many countries and the use of these materials is typically segmented into specific specialty trades such as carpentry, insulation, plumbing, and roofing.

They provide the make-up of habitats and structures, including homes.

Credit: SundiataPost