…as Babalola backs fight against quackery in building sector

Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has pledged to support the efforts of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) to eradicate quackery in the built environment. The renowned lawyer and proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ekiti, spoke during the conferment of fellowship on 30 builders by the college of fellows of the (NIOB) in Abuja on Thursday. […]

Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has pledged to support the efforts of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) to eradicate quackery in the built environment.

The renowned lawyer and proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ekiti, spoke during the conferment of fellowship on 30 builders by the college of fellows of the (NIOB) in Abuja on Thursday.

Babalola, who was also conferred with the fellowship, was represented by Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN).

He commended the NIOB for striving to maintain professional standards in the built environment, while also assuring of his support to the fight to eradicate quackery from the sector.

“Aare Afe Babalola identifies with the Nigerian Institute of Building in its struggle to uphold professional standards, the fight against the eradication of quackery in the building industry, the development of skills for Nigerians and the growth of the building profession so that Nigerian builders can take over from expatriates and can begin to build not houses but bridges, roads, railways and airports,” he said.

Meanwhile, the new chairman of the college of fellows, Bldr Ehikioya Anegbe, said the building profession is the most abused and urged the fellows to ensure they recovered its misapplied mandate.

He also tasked professional builders to assist the executive in tackling the activities of quacks who, according to him, were responsible for several cases of building collapse in the country.

“The building profession is the most abused in Nigeria. Other professions like law, accountancy, etc have sanctions for quackery, enforceable at law courts. Unfortunately, the building profession has become a profession for all comers.

“Time has come for us to rise to enforce the provisions of enacted laws and approach the courts of law for pronouncement while pressurizing the National Assembly to pass the National Building Code Act,” he added.