Adherence to Professionalism, Panacea to Building Collapses in Nigeria

ESV Michael Ezechukwu Okeke,

Maintaining professionalism and strong ethics is very important in project management irrespective of the sector. Strong ethical standards and professionalism are what drive excellent project delivery including the real estate sector.

In recent times, there have been cases of building collapses in Nigeria, even in highbrow residential areas like Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. Collective investigations by independent professionals in the built environment have attributed the abuse of ethical standards, and lack of clear-cut professional practices as the major reason for this ugly trend that is de-marketing the Nigerian real estate sector. Despite efforts by the government to arrest this trend, it is not abating and becoming more regular as the Nigerian real estate sector continues to grow in a most unimaginable manner.

With strong professional ethics in place, the continued building collapses in Nigeria could be avoided, and the painful loss of lives and properties that comes with it is completely avoided.  A recent report has it that Nigeria has recorded over one hundred and forty nine cases of building collapse between 1975 – 2021. The report also has it that some of these buildings were under construction, some were being occupied, and some are abandoned projects. Lagos, the Nigerian most populated city has the highest number of collapsed buildings.

In property development, which is a core area in the real estate market, the use of substandard materials is a case of gross professional misconduct that has led to the collapse of so many buildings in Nigeria.  In a bid to cut corners and reduce cost, so many developers are involved in the use of substandard materials in their property development activities.  This has led to the sudden collapse of so many buildings in Nigeria, and lives and valuable assets wasted.

To address the aforementioned challenge, regulatory agencies of government at all levels should regulate, and monitor real estate projects from start to finish. It is not enough to approve the building plans and allow the developers to veer away from the given and approved standard. The Development Control and other key agencies have a pivotal role to play in this regard.

Also, only certified professional developers should be allowed to develop both private and commercial buildings. And a clear-cut punishment should be spelt out for defaulters in the event of building collapse.

Another angle to arrest the problem of building collapses is for the professional bodies in the built environment to form a synergy and ensure that quacks are not allowed to get jobs when it comes to property development. Quacks do not follow ethical standards and professionalism in building development. Most collapsed buildings in Nigeria were developed by non-professionals and rare cases by professionals who decided to cut corners and lowered standards. These people in the real estate space are not only economic saboteurs, but also murderers, and should be punished accordingly.

The place of ethics and professionalism in the Nigerian real estate market cannot be replaced, and therefore should be taken very seriously by all stakeholders in the industry. With strong ethics and professionalism in place, the increasing rate of building collapse in Nigeria can be reduced to the barest minimum.

ESV Michael Ezechukwu Okeke, a practicing Estate Surveyor and Valuer, is a member of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.