By Abu Hassan
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Federal Government is considering establishing a Building and Engineering Construction Commission under the oversight of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, according to Minister Ahmed Dangiwa. This potential move aims to strengthen regulation and promote cohesion within the country’s growing construction sector.
The Minister’s assurance came during a courtesy visit from the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. The proposal for the commission was initially raised by QSRBN President, Obafemi Onashile, as part of a broader call for comprehensive reforms within the industry.
“On the issue of establishing a Building and Engineering Construction Commission under the oversight of the ministry, it will be looked into,” Dangiwa stated, acknowledging the importance of the proposal.
Onashile explained that the proposed commission would play a critical role in addressing existing regulatory gaps in the built environment. He also highlighted the need for stricter regulations concerning buildings exceeding nine meters in height and advocated for the formal recognition of construction health, safety, and environment as an independent professional qualification.
During the meeting, Minister Dangiwa reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the QSRBN, praising its contributions to cost control, procurement auditing, and contract administration. “At a time when we are pushing aggressively to deliver on the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, your expertise in cost control, contract administration, and procurement auditing is more critical than ever,” he emphasized.
Dangiwa urged the Board to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in its licensing practices. “Proper training and licensing of professionals to practice ethically is a sure way of safeguarding the integrity of the profession and supporting the government’s agenda of eliminating waste, corruption, and substandard practices in the built environment,” he asserted.
He also stressed the need for closer collaboration with the ministry to ensure transparency and accountability in housing delivery, particularly in quality assurance for key national projects like the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and the planned Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs across the six geopolitical zones.
The Minister assured the QSRBN that the ministry would address challenges raised by the board, including the recovery of hijacked plots of land and funding shortfalls. “We will also count on your support in strengthening quality assurance and control on our project sites nationwide,” he added.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Nzekwe Christopher, presented complementary reform proposals, including the establishment of specialized construction courts, a review of the Federal Housing Authority law, and the formation of a Construction Industry Development Board. The potential establishment of the Building and Engineering Construction Commission signals a significant step towards a more regulated and efficient construction sector in Nigeria.
