NIOB Warns: 90% of Abia Building Projects Handled by Quacks

The Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB) has raised serious concerns about the construction industry in Abia State, claiming that approximately 90% of building projects in the state are being handled by unqualified personnel.

During a press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre in Umuahia on Monday, NIOB leadership revealed that qualified builders are being sidelined as charlatans take over construction projects across the state.

"If you count 100 buildings here, you can find out that the buildings that were handled by qualified builders are not more than 10," said Chinedu Nwanosike, the Abia State NIOB chairman, highlighting the severity of the situation.

The press conference was attended by key NIOB officials including the Practice Committee Chairman, Wisdom Okoro, and the National Registrar, John Ugwoeri, who collectively voiced their concerns about the state of building practices in Abia.

The institute directly linked the prevalence of unqualified personnel to recent building collapses in the state. They noted that within just eight days, two separate building collapses had occurred—one at the Low Cost Housing Estate in Umuahia and another at the World Bank Housing Estate in Aba.

NIOB officials emphasized that these tragic incidents could have been prevented if proper building procedures had been followed and qualified professionals engaged.

The institute called for the adoption of the Building Code developed by NIOB and urged the Town Planning Authority in Abia State to expand its role beyond merely granting building approvals to include strict supervision of construction projects, particularly ensuring the use of qualified builders.

In their appeal to the public, NIOB urged Abia residents to prioritize safety by engaging only registered and qualified builders for their construction projects, emphasizing that this would protect both the occupants and businesses operating in these structures.

The institute's warning comes amid growing concerns about building standards and safety regulations across Nigeria, with several high-profile building collapses reported in recent years.

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