…as Ogun surveyors inaugurate APPSN Event Centre, NIS Multipurpose Hall, perform SURCON House groundbreaking
The National President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors(NIS), Surv. Pius Chukwemeka has described surveyors as key professionals that can address the persistent problem of building collapse in Nigeria.
He said that surveyors possess the technical expertise required to ensure that buildings are properly aligned and constructed in accordance with the approved standards.
Chukwemeka disclosed this on Thursday at the Investiture, Projects, Commissioning & Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, where Prof. Adewole Gbadebo spoke on the theme: ” Leadership/Legacy Development”.
Part of the ceremony was the commissioning of the NIS Multipurpose Hall, Magbon, and the Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria(APPSN) Events Hall and Estate in Oba-Oko, as well as the Ground breaking ceremony for Surveyors Council of Nigeria(SURCON), at Oke-Mosan.
The National President said that surveyors play a critical role in ensuring that structures maintain the correct vertical and horizontal positions, saying that the involvement of surveyors in construction process would help address building collapse.
“The only people that can solve building collapse are surveyors because they will do the needful and position any thing that need to be truly vertical they will make it vertical and anything that needs to be truly horizontal they will make it horizontal” he noted.
Also Speaking, The Ogun State Chairman of NIS, Surv. Abiodun Liadi, said that apart from involving surveyors in construction to avoid building collapse, other building professionals and standard materials were also needed in the early stage of construction.
Liadi identified poor construction methods, the use of substandard materials, professional negligence and disregard for building regulations as major factors responsible for the persistent collapse of buildings in Nigeria society.
He explained that topographical surveys were essential in determining the suitability of lan for construction as well as providing architects and other building professionals with accurate data needed to develop appropriate building designs.
“Before you start building, you need to know the topography of that land and the nature of the land. Is it sloping? Is it swampy?
“A topographical survey maps out the undulation of the land so the architect can properly position the structure,” The Chairman said.
He cautioned that failure to properly assess the physical features of construction sites could result in weak foundations, thereby posing serious risks to the structural safety of buildings.
Liadi urged regulatory bodies, especially the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to strengthen quality assurance measures and ensure stricter monitoring of construction materials, such as iron rods and cement.
He noted that the use of substandard materials could weaken the structural stability of buildings, particularly when subjected to increased loads.
“If a design calls for 16mm iron rods, but the actual materials used fall short of standard specifications, the tendency for structural failure increases when the superstructure is added,” The Chairman stressed.
He also identified the practice of cutting construction costs by developers and artisans, particularly through the replacement of specified building materials with substandard alternatives, as a major factor undermining building safety.
The Chairman stated that the institution was mandated to regulate the conduct of surveyors and ensure compliance with professional ethics, while other professionals in the built environment were governed by their respective regulatory bodies.
He noted that NIS had stepped up public enlightenment efforts to enable property owners identify qualified and registered surveyors and avoid falling victim to unqualified practitioners.
Liadi urged members of the public to verify the credentials of anyone engaged for surveying services by requesting their official registration numbers, identity cards and other recognised professional documents.
He divulged that the Ogun NIS branch maintained an operational understanding with the Nigeria Police Force to protect registered surveyors from attacks and disruptions by suspected land grabbers, popularly known as ajagungbale.
The Chairman said that field personnel were provided with standardised identification cards and branded jackets to facilitate their identification during security interventions.
He, however, expressed hope that the full inauguration of the state’s anti-land-grabbing commission would further strengthen protection for professionals working on disputed properties and development sites.
On his part, the Registrar of SURCON, Surveyor Kunle Olugbemiro, identified the patronage of unregistered surveyors as a major obstacle to maintaining professional standards, noting that the practice contributed to challenges in land transactions and construction activities.
He cautioned members of the public against engaging unqualified practitioners, stressing the need for property owners and project managers to verify the professional credentials of surveyors before hiring them.
“If you engage a quack, then you certainly know what you should get as a result.When you engage a proper, registered surveyor known by the Surveyors Council of Nigeria, you shouldn’t have a problem.”
“If there is any misconduct by a registered professional, there is an established body where they can be reported and held accountable,” he opined.
The Registrar revealed that Ogun State had over 300 duly registered surveyors, alongside trainees undergoing pupillage as part of the requirements for obtaining full professional accreditation.
He explained that the council had set up Ethics Committees across states to oversee the conduct of practitioners, identify illegal operators and curb the activities of unregistered individuals issuing surveying documents with legal implications.
Olugbemiro further disclosed that some of the offenders had been arrested and handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
He described the commencement of construction of the new SURCON State Committee on Ethics building in Ogun as a significant step towards strengthening regulatory enforcement, noting that the facility would provide an operational base for monitoring professional activities.
He advised Nigerians to verify the registration status of surveyors before engaging them for land transactions, property development and other surveying assignments, adding that verification can be conducted at NIS offices or through the SURCON website, www.surcon.gov.ng.
Earlier, The newly inaugurated Chairman of APPSN, Ogun State Branch, Surveyor Olufemi Rafatudeen Ogunlami, described the 20-hectare estate as a significant milestone for the profession, noting that it could serve as a reference point for planned development across the South-West.
He said the project highlighted the important role professional surveyors could play in promoting effective physical planning and orderly urban development.
Ogunlami, therefore admonished members to maintain high ethical standards and safeguard the integrity of the profession, emphasising that only surveyors registered with SURCON were eligible for membership of APPSN.
