The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has called on governments of the 36 States of the Federation to adopt and ensure effective implementation of Urban and Regional Planning laws in order to ensure orderly development of cities and communities across the country.
National President of the Institute, Bldr. Sir. Alderton Ewa Ewa, who made the point at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, noted the advocacy is to ensure that State Governments leverage on conventional building practices especially within the state governments’ drive for Urban and Regional Planning.
The Nigerian Institute of Building is a professional body for Builders and those who are about to engage in the building profession. The Institute has its origin in a parent body called the Builders Society, which was formed in 1834 by a number of prominent builders in London. The Institute was renamed the Institute of Builders in 1884. Then in 1965, the name was changed to Institute of Building (IOB). As the organization gained royal charter, it was renamed ‘The Chartered Institute of Building’ (CIOB) in 1980.
Alderton expressed concern that the spate of buildings collapses are outcomes of deviations from strategic steps needed to secure a perfect completed building. He said as a professional body, the Institute is worried and believes that professionals should be allowed to tackle the challenge in the interest of public safety.
He said: ‘The best approach to solving the problem is to engage professionals and make them answerable since the problem has to do with their field of specialty.’
The National President, who is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) and a former Director of Works at the University of Calabar, stressed the crucial importance of Urban and Regional Planning in the development of cities and communities, saying that ‘it is pivotal in view of increasing population and the need to achieve overall development.’
Chairman, Cross River State Chapter of the NIOB, Builder Ekpenyong Ekpenyong commended Sir. Ewa Ewa for championing the advocacy for domestication of URP Laws across states of the Federation, saying: ‘The Cross River State Chapter of the NIOB hereby commends the National President of NIOB, Bldr. Sir. Alderton Ewa Ewa for putting up a good fight for the domestication of URP laws in Cross Rivers State and all states of the federation,’ adding that it demonstrates the commitment of the new leadership to the ideals of the professional institute.
Ekpenyong described Sir. Alderton’s emergence as Executive National President of the NIOB as ‘remarkable,’ adding that ‘it is the first time in fifty-two years that a Crossriverian is elected National President of the Institute.’
Ekpenyong urged members to cooperate with the new president and his team’s focus on reforms.
