The Kogi State Coordinator of Standard Organization of Nigeria, Engr. Olowu Alex J. Daudu has assured stakeholders in the Building Industry of ensuring quality and standard of building materials in the country.
Engr. Olowu made the call while speaking at the opening session of this year’s Kogi Built Environment and Building Material BEBM Exhibitions held in Lokoja, the state capital on Tuesday, lamented that it is becoming worrisome about the daily collapse of building in the country owing to the use of substandard building materials.
The SON Coordinator described the need to ensure standard in the use of not only building materials in the built environment as the way to go, lamented that it is unfortunate that many substandard products gain entrance into the market, assured that SON will not shirk in it responsibilities.
While assuring stakeholders in the Building Industry of strict compliance with standard in the quality of product used in the built industry, commended the organizers of BEBM exhibition for looking inward with a view to cutting cost but still maintaining high quality standard.
TT Coordinator described SON at 50 as a journey that is a work in progress, assured that it would tirelessly to ensure that substandard building materials and other goods and services don’t find it way into the Nigerian market.
Similarly, the BA’ALO-EMU, Oworo Kingdom and Advisory Council Chairman of Built Environment and Building Material BEBM Exhibitions in Kogi state, Chief Fejuku Benjamin Bola pleaded with Nigerians to be alive in the use of local Products in building construction.
He said that the BEBM Exhibitions is aimed at creating a sort of synergy between all stakeholders (end users) in built industry and the producers of such local materials.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to reduce interest in foreign made products and embrace local contents.
“We all know the sad implications attach to relying on foreign materials in construction industry. It depletes foreign reserve as well as create massive unemployment amongst Nigerians youths
“I am happy to tell you all that this organisation BEBM Exhibitions, is today championing the need for Nigerians to look inward to make do with those raw materials God has graciously bestowed on Nigeria as a nation” the Monarch stated
Chief Fejuku Bola said that the 3 days event will look into how best to use various raw materials in the built industry and avoid the use of sub-standard products.
This according to the royal father will help change the face of our environment and that of humanity.
The Commissioner for Environment, Victor Omofaiye who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Jibrin Seidu in his remarks, commended the organisers of the exhibition saying that it will go a long way in regulating the the building industry to ensure standard.
The commissioner said that the event is very important and timely advocating more of such Programme to showcase the worth of building industry.
He said that efforts must be put in place to shun fake materials and embrace original products.
He gave the assurance that government will not relent in providing necessary support to the building sector.
Dr. Callistus Ayegba, a Lecturer with the Federal University of Technology, Mina who was the Guest Lecturer at the occasion along with other resource persons and experienced professionals harped on current issues relating to building and construction industry with a strong warning against the use of sub-standard materials.
The Theme of the 2022 BEBM is “Building Smart Environment” Using Made in Nigeria Building Materials
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