More buildings will collapse in Nigeria if monitoring remains poor – Surveyors

Federal and state governments have been urged to enact laws that will empower surveyors to monitor buildings and structures to check issues of building collapse in the country.

The President, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Dr. Kayode Oluwamotemi made the call when he led some Ekiti State branch executive members of the Institution on a courtesy visit to Governor Kayode Fayemi in Ado Ekiti.

Dr Oluwamotemi who expressed concern over the rising cases of building collapse across the country posited that there must be constitutional regulations that would put owners of structures in check through strict monitoring by certified surveyors to avert crisis.

He explained that there is no law on ground presently that authorises surveyors to monitor buildings and structures in the country, stressing the need for Nigeria to emulate foreign countries who had saddled surveyors with building monitoring responsibilities.

Dr Oluwamotemi said the Institution had already made recommendations to the federal and Lagos State governments on proactive measures to be taken towards preventing building collapse; saying part of the recommendations suggests that two-storey buildings and above be put on strict watch by surveyors.

The president of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors also appealed to the Ekiti State government to help establish a modern and well-equipped office of Surveyor General in the state among other requirements that would standardise surveying in Ekiti.

Responding, the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, SSG, Mr. Foluso Daramola who received the NIS executive members on behalf of Governor Fayemi said the state governments had long resolved to always give necessary support to all professional bodies in the state.

Mr. Daramola revealed that the government is already working on a bill for the establishment of the Office of Surveyor General while the provision of adequate tools to enhance the duties of that position have been put into plan.

The executive members of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors had earlier visited the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe where the monarch advised them to continue to project professionalism in their works towards adding values to national cohesion.