Segun Ajanlekoko is former President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), and also former President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS).
In this interview with Special Correspondent DADA JACKSON, he advocates the establishment of a construction bank and bares his mind on other topical issues.
ife after APBN
Well, life has been okay for me. Since I left office as president of APBN, I have gone back to my professional practice.
Don’t forget that I am the current president of the Commonwealth Association of Quantity Surveyors (CASTLE).
Synagogue debacle
The collapse of a building at the Synagogue Church of all Nations in Okota, Lagos was rather unfortunate. From what I gathered, due process was not followed in the construction process.
We should learn to appreciate life in whatever we are doing, especially when we are building an edifice. It is pertinent to point out the need to engage the services of top class professionals and not quacks whenever we are building.
If we fail to engage the services of top class professionals in the building process, we would end up having disasters waiting to happen.
I have always canvassed for the use of genuine professionals in the construction process instead of engaging quacks just because we want to save cost and in the process endanger the lives of people.
Construction bank
It is regrettable that, up till now, the government has not deemed it fit to establish a construction bank for the country. I have been in the vanguard of Nigeria having a construction bank.
During former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, efforts were made to set up a construction bank but forces in the corridors of power thwarted the efforts.
Developed climes like South Korea, Germany, Canada, to mention a few, have construction banks.
The major advantage of the bank is that the interest rate on funds borrowed are minimal and spread over a considerable period of repayment as opposed to conventional banks.
When it is eventually established, the construction bank would afford players in the real estate sector the opportunity to have a pool of funds to draw from.
In spite of the hiccups, I remain optimistic that the bank will be established before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Involving local professionals in top notch jobs
Nigeria is overdue for using local professionals for top notch jobs.
I will continue to be in the vanguard of those canvassing for the government to engage Nigerians in the execution of high profile jobs instead of giving them to foreigners who in turn employ indigenous professionals to carry out such jobs.
What the so-called foreign experts do is supervise local professionals.
It is rather unfortunate that priority is given to foreigners in the execution of top notch jobs by all the tiers of government in the country, a situation that does not encourage local professionals to develop their skills.
My fervent appeal is that the new administration of Buhari would ensure that local professionals are engaged in high profile constructions in the country so as to enhance their growth and skill.
It is a shame that in this time and age our local professionals who have proven their mettle are still being relegated to the background in the execution of high profile jobs.
National Building Code
I am very upset that, up till now, the bill of the National Building Code (NBC) is yet to be passed into law by the National Assembly (NASS).
It is an unfortunate development which dents the activities of the construction industry. The non passage of the bill is political, to say the least.
This new government has a lot of overhauling to do, not only in security and the economy, but also in the real estate sector.
It is not done in any civilised country that such a vital document will languish in the Parliament just because some forces are not disposed to its passage.
The NBC bill, if passed into law, would help sanitise the construction industry as it would serve as a guide to both professionals and stakeholders alike in the discharge of their duties.
My appeal to this eighth NASS is to ensure that the passage of the bill is made a priority. By so doing, Nigeria would be seen as a professional country observing legal standards/best practices in the development of infrastructure and housing.
Come to think of it, the bill has undergone the second reading stage. I wonder why the seventh NASS found it difficult to give it a third reading.
Anyway, the eighth NASS should bring the issue to the front burner.
Housing needs versus delivery
The government should get started on the provision of mass housing for the citizenry as a way of alleviating the suffering of the masses.
It must be emphasised, however, that the government does not have any business in the provision of housing for the people, it is only to provide the enabling environment for private investors to function.
The only business of the government in housing is the provision of mass housing ordinary Nigerian can afford.
It should involve the private sector if it is serious in its quest to address housing shortfall which is currently about 20 million.
Land Use Act
I don’t subscribe to the outright abolition of the Land Use Act. It is like throwing away the baby with the bath water.
Rather, the government should revisit the Act where it deals with governor’s consent, which over the years has been abused by some governors.
I suggest the government whittles down the power of governors in giving approval for the issuance of certificate of occupancy (C of O). Most governors over the years have refused to give approvals because of perceived political foes.
I would canvass for an amendment of some of the sections of the Act to make it less dependent on the whims and caprices of governors.
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
It is national disgrace that we have such a road in this age. It is equally shameful that the road has been in such a poor state despite he huge sums of money sunk into making it motorable.
The government should go back to the drawing board and fashion out how to make the road motorable.
The road is very strategic as it links the South West and other parts of the country. It is also a vital link connecting the ports to other parts of the country.
The government should release funds for the completion of the road to the contractors handling it if only to save the countless number of lives being lost on the road on a daily basis.
There is nothing wrong in awarding the reconstruction of the road to two contractors. But emphasis must be placed on giving the job to contractors of equal and good track record.
If the job is massive, it could be divided and given to two contractors.
The reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is taking too long. The earlier it is completed, the better.