Tinubu Urges Swift Action on Building Safety as Housing Council Convenes in Gombe

Tinubu Urges Swift Action on Building Safety as Housing Council Convenes in Gombe

By Matthew Eloyi

With the troubling rise in building collapses across Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has highlighted building safety as a top national concern, calling for swift intervention to address the crisis.

This was conveyed by Mohammed Bala Saulawa, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, during the opening of the 13th National Council on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development in Gombe on Monday.

Saulawa announced that this year’s theme, “Housing the Future: Affordable Housing for Economic Growth, Climate Resilience, and Urban Development,” reflects a dual focus on expanding affordable housing access and enhancing climate resilience.

Highlighting recent collapses in cities like Jos, Lagos, and Abuja, he shared that the Housing Minister has established a high-level committee to investigate these incidents and craft solutions to prevent future occurrences.

“The committee has already held sessions with industry experts, where they discussed the ongoing issues, such as poor compliance with building standards and the use of substandard materials,” Saulawa stated.

He added that a new Housing Tribunal has been set up to enforce policies and ensure stricter adherence to safety standards, warning that violators would face penalties.

Addressing Nigeria’s broader housing needs, the Ministry is collaborating with the National Population Commission to gather data for a comprehensive report, expected by the end of 2024.

This report will help shape future housing strategies, and a nationwide housing survey is slated to begin soon.

Saulawa also noted that before the council meeting, the Ministry invited over 60 government and private organisations to submit feedback on the challenges facing housing development.

“Eight critical issues have been identified that need addressing within the housing sector, including building collapses, which pose risks not only to structures but also to people’s lives. If we value lives, then we must address the issue of building safety and collapse prevention,” he said.

Gombe State Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transportation, Maijama’a Kallah, highlighted affordable housing efforts in the state, including the construction of 550 housing units in partnership with Family Homes and the North East Development Commission.

He reported that most units are near completion, with only the road network remaining to be finished.