By Abayomi Elias
In its effort to ensure adequate numbers of skilled professionals are on construction sites to monitor various construction activities in Lagos State, Lagos State Government Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State Building Control Agency LASBCA organised a stakeholders engagement for all rank and files in the built sector.
Newsconnect reports that the theme of the building sector stakeholders engagement for year 2024 is christened “Professionalism across board in the built environment”.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event harped on the need why the built industry needs to have professionals on board from the foundation level up to the finishing level of building constructions.
He said when professionals work together across board, 70 percent of the challenges can be identified and surmounted.
In his words;
“Today is about all of you. It is about what we are doing to improve the environment.
“I want to encourage us to take the discussion and recommendation very seriously. That is why am here.
“We will do everything to ensure our environment remain safe, attractive and where Investment is needed”. He said
The SA to Lagos State governor on e-GIS and Urban Development Dr Olajide Abiodun Babatunde reiterated the essence of the stakeholders engagement and why it is imperative to have professionals across the built value chain.
In an interview with Newsconnect and journalists at the event, said;
“The essence of the stakeholders meeting is to bring everybody in the built sector together and then tell them about our processes particularly the amnesty program which is being carried out by the office of physical planning and urban development. Also the certified accreditor program.
“We say we have the capability in terms of technical know-how and skills but we may not have the capacity in terms of the numbers. Yes, we already have district offices in all the 57 districts of Lagos in the local governments and the LCDAs, however the numbers of construction that goes on in Lagos on a daily basis maybe would outnumber our staffs.
“A team that goes to a site is made up of architect, a civil engineer, a mechanical engineer, a builder, a structural engineer. By the time you count the numbers of people in that team, they are about ten people. We have to cater for their logistics.
“We have called on the allied professionals from the built industry be you an architect, engineers, builders to come together as a consortium of at least a group of five that will be helping us with our works.
“We are outsourcing some of the responsibility of government to the private sector. We have gotten to that stage now where it is a joint responsibility. If you have the skills, you need to help us.
“The one we can’t give out to the members of the public, like monitoring, we will handle”. He said
Architect Olarewaju Teleola in an interview at the event with Newsconnect correspondence enlightened potential clients willing to patronize the building industry to do due diligence so they don’t hire quacks who paraded as architect when designing their building.
“As a professional we are already aware of what LASBCA does, we work together, so I believe this kind of gathering is for grassroot people that are not aware.
“You don’t give your buildings to quacks. It is an assignment for all clients, or potential clients to do their due diligence to actually pick and work with certified professionals.
“Every building starts with an architect. That is from the design stage. An architect is like a guide to potential clients. They recommend or suggest the right building team, that the client needs for any building construction.
“Every state has a chapter of architect association. It is easy now , you can easily google. Nigeria institute of architect Lagos State Chapter that is where all the registered architects in Lagos State are. So if you are in other states, you can just do the same”. She said.
Presidents of Plumber, President of professional carpenters, Furniture Maker Association Lagos State, Chairman Nigeria Welder Lagos Chapter at different intervals in an interview shared their high points and take home from the engagement.
More details coming….