NIQS attributes unethical practice as major cause of building collapses

The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has attributed unethical practice by operators in the built environment as a major reason for the increasing cases of building collapse in Nigeria.

The NIQS President, Olayemi Shonubi made this disclosure in Abuja at a strategy retreat for the institute’s National Executive Council (2021-2023), with the theme “Ethics, Corporate Governance and Strategic Planning.”

Shonubi stated expressly that the collapse of the high-rise building in Lagos was a failure of ethics by all professionals who were involved in the project.

He pointed out that it was the failure of ethics from all the stakeholders that were involved, not only the professionals but the government and developers as well.

He noted that’s one of the reasons they want to continue to focus so that they can prepare their members to be ready to act aright.

Shonubi said “You know sometimes our actions or what we don’t do have an effect on the public. So, we shouldn’t basically focus on who’s paying us alone but what’s in public good and interest.”

The NIQS President hinted that his team would be committed to entrenching ethics and corporate governance in the administration of the institute throughout his tenure.

He harped on the need for unity in the built environment so as to enable the sector to effectively tackle the many challenges confronting it.

The Lagos Chapter Chairman of NIQS, Ayodele Alao, said most recent building failures were due to unethical conducts of operators.

Alao said “We’ve realised that most of the failures that have been recorded, especially in recent times in the built environment border on ethics.”

He lamented that it is a cause for concern and has been a topic for discourse among all professionals in the sector, adding that it is time they began to take the issues of ethics very seriously.