Yinka Kolawole

Professional builders have called for the adoption of the local content law in the construction sector, so as to positively harness the benefits of using foreign expertise for growth of the sector.

They made the call at the just concluded Annual General Meeting and Conference organised by the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), where they expressed concern that big construction firms are not giving back to the nation’s academic system, with a view to helping to develop the construction sector.

Speaking on the on the theme “Expatriates in the Nigeria Building Construction Industry: Merits and Demerits”, NIOB National President, Mr. Chucks Omeife, said government should initiate policies that will protect the role of indigenous professionals in the nation’s construction sector.

He noted that the already approved national building code is yet to be implemented, and called for Nigerian consultants to be empowered while foreign experts should be consulted when necessary. “Many Nigerian construction companies owned by indigenes are failing due to lack of continuity. Therefore continuity based on professionalism, not on family ties, must be encouraged to sustain such companies.

“Over-dependence on foreign expatriates for construction works that can be easily carried out by Nigerians is inimical to the growth of the economy. A foreign expert must only come into the country to do what no Nigerian can do. If expatriates must come into the country at all, there must be clear terms of reference,” he stated.

Also speaking at the event, former President of Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Mr. Jimoh Faworaja, said that global issues should be domesticated to benefit the indigenous professionals.

He said that a recent agreement between the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Immigration Service, whereby foreign engineers are barred from entering the country to practice, unless required, should be copied.

“Fifty-one years after independence, the nation’s infrastructure is still underdeveloped as the construction sector falls far short of international contemporaries. The construction industry needs a law similar to the Local Content Law and Petroleum Industry Bill, as industry stakeholders need to sponsor similar in the legislature.”

Faworaja also called on Nigerian companies to acquire sophisticated equipments used by experts and foreign companies and use them by themselves, while also seeking avenue to build similar ones in the country.