Estate surveyors, valuers critical to preventing building collapse – Minister

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has emphasised the crucial role of estate surveyors and valuers in preventing building collapses across Nigeria.

Speaking at the 2024 Valuers Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday, themed “Valuation as a Tool for Revamping the Economy – The Role of Estate Surveyors and Valuers,” Dangiwa highlighted the importance of thorough property inspections and assessments in ensuring the safety and sustainability of buildings.

He stressed that estate surveyors and valuers are indispensable in the successful delivery of affordable housing across Nigeria.

“Your professional expertise ensures that land and property values are accurate and reflect fair market values, which is crucial for the state to provide cost-effective housing solutions,” he stated.

The minister further underscored the critical role these professionals play in preventing building collapses, a persistent issue in Nigeria that has claimed numerous lives and destroyed properties.

“Estate surveyors and valuers are critical in preventing building collapse,” he remarked, adding that their work in ensuring that property inspections and assessments adhere to professional standards is essential.

Dangiwa also recounted his recent directive to establish a committee under the ministry to investigate a building collapse, noting that estate surveyors and valuers are integral to this effort.

“Your past projects have even confirmed to us that estate surveyors and valuers have a role to play in curbing building collapse,” he said.

He emphasised the need for their continued involvement in both the design and post-construction phases of building projects.

He pointed out that building collapses are not solely the responsibility of designers and constructors but can also result from the misuse of buildings by occupants.

“Imagine if a hall on the first or second floor of a building meant only to be an open office space is converted into a gym or used for another purpose. You are overstretching the structural stability of the building, and this is bound to lead to a collapse,” Dangiwa explained.

Dangiwa urged the assembly to develop actionable measures to promote excellence in the profession, safeguard the integrity of the field, and protect lives and investments.

“As you deliberate in this assembly, it is my hope that you will come up with actionable measures to promote excellence in estate surveying and valuation,” he said.

The event, which brought together leading figures in the field of valuation and estate surveying, served as a platform for discussing the profession’s role in revamping Nigeria’s economy and preventing future tragedies linked to building collapses.