By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN – EDO State branch of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), has attributed the various environmental problems confronting the State, especially the Capital City of Benin to the improper use of professionals by the state government just as the body lamented that there was no single Architect in the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing.

Edo State chairman of NIA, Architect Timothy Ikhisemojie who made the observation weekend in Benin during a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Housing, listed the environmental problems to including the perennial flooding of Benin-City, collapse of buildings and various structural defects.

He therefore appealed to the government to review the existing Ordinances, laws or regulations including the Edo State Urban and Regional Planning Act to incorporate the roles of the Architects just as he called for the inputs of the Architects in such reviews.

The NIA State chairman also called on the state government top ensure that professional Architects were used in the designing of buildings and projects as well as incorporate them in the city beautification programme, urban renewal scheme, housing scheme development and community development.

He wants the government to ensure the adoption of the National Building Code to put an end to the various building crisis and avert the plannessness of cities and towns in the state.

The chairman said that the adoption and domestication of the National Building Code would ensure that present efforts by the state government in providing physical and infrastructure development of the state was not short lived.

While recalling the collapse of two buildings under construction in the state within two weeks in the month of March 2011, Mr. Ikhisemojie called on the government to investigate the incidence and make the findings public to prevent future occurrences.