The Lagos
State government under the watch of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode recently
introduced a new building technology towards addressing various ongoing
anomalies in the state’s housing sector as well as erecting a structure fast
and easily.
It’s noteworthy that the emergence of the
technique was as a result of the colossal housing deficit recorded thus far in
the state. Survey indicates that over two million losses had been recorded
across the length and breadth of the Nigeria’s biggest city.
It’s
not anymore news that building collapse alongside allied matters has in recent
times been a plight for public discourse within the shores of the Nigerian
building industry at large. It suffices to assert that the decadence is
ubiquitous.
However, it seems that of Lagos is on the
rampage compared to other states, perhaps owing to the fact that the territory
consists of highest number of erected structures coupled with the deplorable
atmospheric condition faced by its residents.
In his
speech to newsmen, the State’s Commissioner for Housing – Mr. Gbolahan Lawal –
disclosed that the new technology was already being used in its ongoing housing
estate at Idale in Badagry and would further be deployed in the site situated
at Imota in Ikorodu, in a bid to achieving the government’s motive of
delivering 2,000 houses across the cosmopolitan city.
Mr.
Lawal, who equally disclosed that the technique ensures construction of
bungalow within 48 hours, stated therein “We want to see how to go into the
manufacturing of houses. We make it seamless and produce about 100 units in a
month. We have three companies; one is already at site.”
He
went ahead to opine that investment in the housing sector usually have a
multiplier effect on the economy as he informed that various gadgets and
accessories such as tiles, electronics, water cum electricity meters,
mattresses, TV subscription, in addition to menial jobs for artisans, are tied
to construction of houses.
I’m glad that Lagos as an over-populated state
could eventually arrive at a point where erection of formidable structures is
considered as priority and could be done with ease by the builders.
It has
overtime been insinuated in some quarters that the Nigerian polity was yet to
embrace building technology to the fullness considering the level of quackery
and mediocrity invariably witnessed in the sector. But it appears the Lagos
government is about to disabuse some persons of the notion that Nigeria lacks
the apt resources to get it right.
Nevertheless,
before we celebrate in haste, it would be pertinent for the government to
critically consider some factors with a view to ensuring that the newly
discovered technique doesn’t fade away in no distant time and is fully
domesticated in the state.
We
aren’t unaware that the firms contracted to handle the job are mainly foreign,
hence the need for every discerning mind to worry about the future of the
initiative. Though the housing commissioner had disclosed that some indigenous
workers are being trained in the technique and process of construction, I’m of
the strong view that there’s need to institutionalize it.
Institutionalizing
the said application would enable our teeming professionals, and the
prospective ones, to passionately key into the process. Consequently, our
indigenous designers and builders would be in charge of the initiative thereby
helping to greatly boost the economy. So, Lagos can take a lead in this aspect.
Similarly, there’s a compelling need to
establish a strict policy to guide the housing sector in the state. Mr. Lawal
had notified the public that a new housing policy aimed at tackling the state’s
housing deficit had been drafted. Such a policy, which ought to be implemented
as soon as possible, must bear every clause needed to address all forms of
lapse currently observed in the state’s building sector.
The
policy, expected to be designed with the aid of well-experienced and reliable
town planners, needs to enshrine reasonable penalty for anyone guilty of
violating the development control laws. It’s in record that Lagos was the first
state to create a full-fledged Housing Ministry in 1999 because of the priority
it accorded shelter, hence such prioritization must be fully upheld by the awaited
policy.
It’s
also time we started recognizing the use of materials like wood, clay and
bamboo in the construction of standard structures, either residential or
commercial. We have been notified that the Lagos Housing Ministry had in years
back experimented on the use of the aforementioned items but the availability
and speed of delivery was the reason it dropped the proposed initiative.
It’s
amusing for one to assert that the required wood for building construction is
unavailable, or can’t be found in abundance, in the country. All we need to do
is to raise the profile of timber-based architecture toward promoting the
demand. Everything centres on adequate recognition of the technique in question
and the onward quest to deploy its lofty use.
In addition, we must begin to promote afforestation
by assigning grievous punishment to unapproved deforestation via viable
policies. By so doing, the needed woods would become more accessible and cheap
than concrete and bricks, thus constructing with the former would be done
swiftly.
As
we congratulate Gov. Ambode for recording this feat, he and his team must
equally be urged to think deeply towards making advanced building technologies
stand the test of time in the state, so that, other states can borrow a leaf
from them. Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor, a tech expert, is
National Coordinator,
Right Thinkers Movement
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