….Blame Quacks, Substandard Materials For Building Collapse
……Says Over 300 Registered Surveyors Operating In Ogun – SURCON Registrar
Firdaus Obiremi
The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Ogun State Branch, has commissioned a 20-hectare residential estate for its members, unveiled a 1,500-capacity multipurpose event hall and commenced the construction of a new regulatory facility for the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON).
The projects, unveiled on Thursday as part of activities marking a major leadership transition and investiture ceremony in Ogun State, are aimed at strengthening professional development, improving members’ welfare and enhancing the regulation of surveying practice.
The landmark event, held under the theme, ‘Celebrating Leadership: Commissioning Landmarks, Building the Future’, brought together professional surveyors, government representatives and other stakeholders in the built environment sector.
The projects include the APPSN Surveyors Estate and Event Centre at Obada-Oko, spanning 20 hectares; the foundation-laying ceremony for the SURCON State Committee on Ethics building at Oke-Mosan; and the commissioning of the NIS Ogun State Branch Multipurpose Hall at Magbon.
Speaking at the event, the outgoing Chairman of the Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria, Ogun State Branch, Surveyor Adekoya Kayode Samuel, described the developments as the fulfilment of a long-standing vision achieved through collective sacrifice, perseverance and institutional cooperation.
He said the projects represented more than physical infrastructure, stressing that they reflected the determination of members to build enduring institutions capable of supporting the profession beyond individual leadership tenures.
“We gather not merely to commission physical structures, but to celebrate a shared vision brought to life through sacrifice, cooperation, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to our noble profession,” Samuel said.
He disclosed that the association’s event centre project, which had remained stalled for about 15 years, was eventually completed after his executive committee prioritised its delivery.
Samuel also highlighted the development of the 20-hectare estate at Obada-Oko as one of the major welfare interventions undertaken during his tenure.
According to him, registered surveyors were allocated plots measuring 2,000 square metres each, alongside administrative support to facilitate property development, adding that some beneficiaries had already constructed their houses and moved into the estate.
He said the outgoing executive also recorded progress in continuous professional development and the adoption of modern technologies to improve surveying practice in the state.
However, Samuel urged the incoming leadership to establish sustainable management structures to protect the projects from deterioration and prevent them from becoming abandoned assets.
“The true test of this achievement will be how well we manage and utilise these assets moving forward.
“We must institute a management system that will ensure this legacy survives changes in leadership. Our responsibility is to build structures and systems that are bigger than individuals and stronger than administrations,” he said.
He also appealed to the Federal and Ogun State governments to prioritise affordable housing schemes, arguing that access to decent accommodation remained a fundamental human need despite competing demands on public resources.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of NIS, Ogun State Branch, Surveyor Abiodun Olufemi Liadi, attributed recurring building collapses in major Nigerian cities to poor construction practices, substandard materials, professional negligence and failure to comply with established standards.
Liadi, who spoke during an interview with journalists, said preventing building failures required proper professional involvement from the earliest stages of construction, particularly land identification and assessment.
He emphasised the importance of topographical surveys in determining the suitability of land for construction and providing architects and other professionals with accurate information for 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,” he explained.
The NIS chairman warned that ignoring the physical characteristics of a construction site could create foundational weaknesses capable of compromising the safety of buildings.
He also called on regulatory agencies, particularly the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to intensify quality control checks on construction materials, including iron rods and cement.
According to him, the use of materials that fall short of specified standards could undermine structural integrity, particularly when buildings are subjected to additional 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,” he said.
Liadi further identified cost-cutting practices by developers and artisans, including the substitution of specified construction materials with inferior alternatives, as major threats to building safety.
On professional regulation, he explained that NIS was responsible for enforcing ethical standards among surveyors, while other built-environment professions operated under their respective regulatory frameworks.
He said the institution had intensified public awareness campaigns to help property owners distinguish registered surveyors from unqualified practitioners.
According to him, members of the public should demand official registration numbers, identification cards and other recognised credentials before engaging anyone for surveying assignments.
Liadi also disclosed 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.
He said field personnel were provided with standardised identification cards and branded jackets to facilitate their identification during security interventions.
The chairman, 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.
Also speaking, the Registrar of SURCON, Surveyor Kunle Olugbemiro, identified the engagement of unregistered surveyors as a major challenge undermining professional standards and contributing to problems associated with land transactions and construction projects.
Olugbemiro warned members of the public against patronising individuals who lacked the necessary professional registration, saying property owners and project managers must take responsibility for verifying the credentials of practitioners they engage.
“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 said.
The SURCON registrar disclosed that Ogun State currently had more than 300 fully registered surveyors, in addition to practitioners undergoing pupilage towards full professional accreditation.
He said the council had established state-level Ethics Committees to monitor professional activities, identify illegal operators and prevent unregistered individuals from issuing surveying documents with legal implications.
Olugbemiro added that some offenders had been apprehended and handed over to relevant 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.
According to him, verification can be conducted at NIS offices or through the SURCON website, www.surcon.gov.ng.
In his remarks, the newly inaugurated Chairman of APPSN, Ogun State Branch, Surveyor Olufemi Rafatudeen Ogunlami, described the 20-hectare estate as a major professional achievement that could serve as a model for structured development across the South-West.
He said the project demonstrated the capacity of professional surveyors to contribute meaningfully to physical planning and organised urban development.
Ogunlami called on members to uphold ethical standards and protect the reputation of the profession, stressing that membership of APPSN was restricted to surveyors registered with SURCON.
He also urged the Ogun State Government to strengthen collaboration with professional surveyors and prioritise comprehensive mapping across the state.
The new chairman specifically called for the enforcement of the provision allocating 2.5 per cent of the state budget to mapping projects, arguing that accurate spatial data was essential for effective urban planning, infrastructure development and investment promotion.
“If you cannot map it, you cannot plan it,” he said.
Ogunlami explained that comprehensive mapping would enable the government to identify available land resources, plan infrastructure more effectively and improve the state’s attractiveness to investors.
He added that APPSN was prepared to partner with the state government in developing accurate mapping systems to support sustainable development and improve Ogun’s Ease of Doing Business standing.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Investiture Committee, Surveyor Iretioluwa Olanrewaju Sotayo, described the commissioning of the 1,500-capacity NIS multipurpose hall as a significant achievement for the profession.
He said the facility was believed to be the first of its kind constructed by a state chapter of the institution in the country.
Sotayo attributed the successful completion of the project and the smooth transition of leadership to the mentorship of past leaders and the commitment of members.
He said the institution remained committed to members’ welfare, professional development and the enforcement of ethical standards.
“Our primary aim remains the welfare of our members and the strict preservation of ethical standards in professional practice,” he said.
Sotayo added that the Ogun branch would continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies, regulatory institutions and sister professional associations to promote compliance with building and development standards.
He said the newly commissioned facility would serve as a centre for professional training, institutional activities and engagements among stakeholders in the built environment.
The developments, according to the professional leaders, are expected to strengthen the institutional capacity of surveyors in Ogun while expanding opportunities for members and improving the profession’s contribution to land administration, housing delivery and sustainable urban development.
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