The Built environment industry yet again witnessed the gathering of professionals in the Engineering profession with the NICE Lagos chapter celebrating one of its veteran professional engineer; Engr. HOB Lawal who happens to be the maiden national chairman of the institution. The event held at the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) Secretariat, Alausa on the 17th of August was primarily to discuss on the theme: Inflation- A major factor for building and infrastructure collapse: The Civil Engineering Perspective.
The NICE Lagos Chapter chairperson; Engr. Mrs. Faith Ukoni appreciated the Executive Governor of Lagos State; H.E Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also the incumbent NSE President; Engr. Mrs Margaret Oguntala for her total support and she did recognize the presence of fellow professionals like, Engr. H.O.B Lawal, NICE national chairman; Engr. Chukwudi Ezugu, Deputy national chairman, Engr. Tokunbo Ajanaku, former national chairman NICE; Engr. James Owivry, former national chairman NIMechE; Engr. Mrs. Olufunmilade Akingbagbohun, Engr. Kunle Adebajo.
The NICE Lagos Chapter chairman, Engr. Faith Ukoni spoke about the incessant building collapse in the construction industry stating that “It has become worrisome and looking like a menace in the built environment and the consistent building collapse now looks like a norm as we we are consciously expecting a collapse every month in a year” Engr. Faith Ukoni highlighted.
According to her, the menace can be further averted through the collaboration of stakeholders in the industry for sustainable development of the construction sector in Nigeria amid the inflation in the economy. She further emphasized the need to pay attention to the young and newly inducted engineeers of the profession.
In the course of the event, the deputy national chairman/incoming national chairman; Engr. Tokunbo Ajanaku gave his lecture on the theme as well. In the same vein, he did acknowledge the presence of every professional engineer present before giving his pertinent remarks about “Inflation” which he stated affects most nations of the world and has crippled economies in recent times.
He spoke about the importance of sensitization and acting upon it to curb the menace. He further spoke about the adverse effects of inflation on Nigeria’s economy across sectors and it limits the efficiency on productivity. According to Engr. Ajanaku; he stated that it has apparently become an ill-factor to infrastructural development in the Construction industry.
He gave an instance of the purchase of cement and bitumen about a few years ago contributing to the change in market price which could possibly affect its manufacturing and production processes. He spoke about the need to purchase standard and effective products.
He highlighted the room for alternatives to reducing inflation by adopting its local content policy and reducing the patronage of foreign products in which he gave a wake-up call to engineers to take their space. Engr. Ajanaku finally spoke about the importance of collective responsibility to curbing collapse in building infrastructure in Nigeria and he further stated that “better infrastructure is synonymous to a better and more bigger sustainable economy”.
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