By Yinka Kolawole

The federal government is committed to reviewing the National Housing Policy (NHP) to meet international standards.

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amma Pepple, gave the assurance when members of Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) paid her a courtesy visit.

ARCON’s President, Arch. Umar Aliyu, had made a case for the review of the policy, stressing the need for its conformity to international standards and to reflect technological development of modern times.

He further called for the establishment of a National Building Maintenance Policy and a National Building Material Policy for the country, observing that most government buildings in the country are not properly maintained due to lack of legislation. He noted that ARCON is already working on a draft policy and would present it to enable other relevant professional bodies make their input.

Pepple while acknowledging that the country does not have a current housing policy at present, promised to examine the one that was designed some years ago. “As for the housing policy, I was told that one was prepared and in fact it was printed in 2006. The information I have is that the last National Housing Policy (NHP) was designed in 1987.

But the fact is that we don’t have a national housing policy, and I’m still waiting to get information on whether it went to the National Executive Council (NEC) and what the council’s decision was on it. However, I do appreciate that it needs to be reviewed,” she said.

On measures being taken to address incidence of collapsed building, she said plans have been concluded to forward the National Building Code Enforcement Act (NBCEA) to the National Assembly.

She noted that the document had already gone through some vital stages including the National Council of State (NCS), and the Federal Executive Council (FEC), but yet to be considered by the National Assembly yet.

She expressed concern over the recurring incidences of building collapse in recent times, for which nobody or institution had been sanctioned, and emphasized the need for architects to engage in supervisory role in the built sector.

According to her, architects are very crucial in the built environment adding that the handiwork and expertise of architects are visible all over the world.

Aliyu, the ARCON president, had earlier declared that the country was paying for its inability to put in place proper regulatory mechanism in the housing sector with the incidents of building collapse. “We must regulate the building sector properly. Through project and site monitoring, the ARCON would be able to alert on any defective structure under construction,” he said.