The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Attah, recently inaugurated a twenty-one-member committee on the National Building Code Advisory.

In a statement, it was noted that the Reconstituted Committee comprises duly registered professionals, representatives of key institutions, and relevant non-governmental organisations, as well as one state representative per geopolitical zone of the country.

In his address, Attah described the inauguration as a collective resolve to reposition the Nigerian building and construction industry on a foundation of standards, regulations, and professionalism.

He said, “By inaugurating this committee, we are demonstrating our determination to ensure that every Nigerian home, office, school, hospital, and place of assembly is built to specifications that guarantee safety, durability, and sustainability.

“The National Building Code is a crucial regulatory instrument that sets minimum standards for pre-design, design, construction, and maintenance stages, ensuring quality, safety, and proficiency in the building industry.

Giving a historical context to the journey of building codes in Nigeria, the first attempt was initiated in 1987 by the Federal National Council of Works and Housing, with subsequent attempts made in 1989 and 1990. Then, a draft was presented at the second National Council on Housing and Urban Development in 2005.

“The code was officially signed into law in 2006 by President Olusegun Obasanjo but has recorded slow progress due to challenges in ratification, enforcement, and compliance.”

The Minister further informed that the first National Building Code Advisory Committee was inaugurated in 2018, but was not reconstructed after its three-year term expired.

He noted, “The national building code was initiated by the National Council on Housing and Urban Development to address issues such as absence of town and city planning, incessant building collapses, use of non-professionals, and lack of maintenance culture, among others.”

Attah said the Committee would be responsible for periodic reviews of the code and accountable to the Honourable Minister, adding that the code establishes enforcement divisions and units at federal, state, and local government levels, staffed by registered professionals, who are charged with implementing its provisions.

Accordingly, he outlined the functions of the committee in line with Section 3 of the Code to include periodic review of the National Building Code, recommending technical subcommittees, and guiding specialised technical subcommittees.

The Minister informed them that the committee will meet at least twice a year, with all meetings subject to the approval of the minister, instructing the committee to provide quarterly reports detailing progress, challenges, and recommendations to the Ministry, as well as ensuring that their work leads to visible results.

“This is a serious national assignment, and it must be treated as such. It cannot and must not be business as usual. Nigerians expect results. The Ministry expects results,” he warned.

Hon. Attah charged members of the Committee to bring their professional competence, integrity, and patriotic commitment to bear in discharging their responsibilities.

He said, “The safety of our citizens, the durability of our infrastructure, and the resilience of our cities depend on the work you do here.

“The commitment of the government to delivering safe, decent, and affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable urban development, expressing optimism that enforcement of the Building Code would create jobs, protect lives, secure property, and ensure that cities grow in harmony with safety, accessibility, and environmental sustainability.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, represented by the Director of Public Buildings, Pemi Temitope, emphasised the importance of the code to provide a unifying framework that sets minimum standards for the design, construction and maintenance of buildings across the country.

Belgore further stated that the reconstitution of the committee was therefore a deliberate step to guarantee that every housing intervention is guided by modern standards that protect lives, preserve value, and promote resilience within our built environment.

Speaking on behalf of the committee, the Chairman of the NBCAC Committee, Mohammed Faworaja, assured the Minister that the committee would carry out their responsibilities with diligence and professionalism, adhering to all requirements.

On the domestication of the code in states, he said the committee will look into the National Standards and encourage states to domesticate using their peculiar situations.

Belgore thereafter unveiled the members of the National Building Code Advisory Committee, beginning with representatives of key professional regulatory councils.

They include the Representative of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, Mohammed Faworaja, who serves as Chairman; the Representative of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Matthias Kastuda, who serves as Secretary; and the Representative of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, as a member. Others are Samson Opaluwah, representing the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria; Kabir Yari, representing the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria; and Adefila Kolawole, representing the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria.

Also appointed were Akinpelu Adewunmi, representing the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria; Apere Rotimi, representing the Surveyors Council of Nigeria; Grace Feyinji, representing the Federal Ministry of Environment; Osunde Emily, representing the Federal Ministry of Works; and Dr. Charles Nzelu, representing the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Chief Superintendent of Fire, Sarki Abdulrahman, was also named as the representative of the Federal Fire Service.

In addition, the committee includes Idim Nsemo, representing the Standards Organisation of Nigeria; Festus Adebayo, Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network, representing civil society; and Kunle Awobodu of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, representing non-governmental organisations.

Ini Orok was appointed to represent Akwa Ibom State, while Baba Mohammed-Dadi represents Bauchi State.

Further members are Oluwafemi Abogunrin, representing Kwara State; Halima Baba, representing Kano State; Hakeem Smith, representing Lagos State; and Obi Okonkwo, representing Anambra State.