The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria has reiterated its dedication to addressing the country’s housing deficit, currently estimated at 17 to 20 million units.

This statement came as CORBON celebrated its 35th anniversary, reflecting on its achievements in the building and construction sector.

At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of CORBON, Dr. Samson Opaluwah, emphasised the crucial role the building profession plays in Nigeria’s economic development.

“Globally, the building and construction industry is primarily responsible for providing and maintaining infrastructure and remains a leading indicator of economic growth and current developments in a nation; Nigeria is no exception,” Opaluwah stated.

He said as the housing gap continues to widen, CORBON has proposed several strategic maeasures to accelerate housing delivery across the country.

These include the development of a robust national housing strategy, a large-scale training program for building professionals, and a national plan for the production of local building materials.

Opaluwah further highlighted the need for a “responsive social housing program” to cater to vulnerable groups and stressed the importance of improving access to land and liberalising mortgage systems to empower youth towards homeownership.

“Similarly, access to mortgages should be liberalized with appropriate safeguards such that the youth would be capable of homeownership,” he added.

The Council also intends to strengthen its collaboration with other regulatory bodies, such as COREN, to ensure the enforcement of building standards nationwide.

“CORBON and COREN are working towards partnering to strengthen the framework for building control across the country,” Opaluwah explained.Related News

He stated that in the last 35 years, CORBON has achieved significant milestones, including accrediting over 50 tertiary institutions and registering approximately 4,000 licensed builders.

The council has also contributed to workforce development, training around 50,000 individuals across 250 centers in various construction trades.

Opaluwah also revealed that CORBON recently established the Project Evaluation and Monitoring Unit to oversee building construction projects and ensure quality control.

“The Project Evaluation and Monitoring Unit is established to contribute to overseeing building construction and strengthen the capacity of sub-national government agencies,” he noted.

Looking ahead, CORBON plans to mark its 35th anniversary in 2025 with a series of events, including a National Seminar, the laying of the foundation stone for its National Headquarters in Abuja, and the hosting of the inaugural International Building Congress.

“CORBON will be hosting the maiden edition of a biennial International Building Congress in November 2025. This will bring together all the stakeholders in building construction in Nigeria and the diaspora,” Opaluwah said.

The Chairman also emphasised the need for policy reforms, such as reviewing the Council’s enabling Act and promoting a law to enforce the Nigerian National Building Code.

“CORBON remains committed to repositioning itself through a review of its enabling Act and fostering stronger synergies with other professional regulatory bodies and associations within the built environment,” he said

He also recognised the significant contributions of the founding fathers of the Council and paid tribute to past leaders whose efforts have helped shape the industry.

“I pay glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the building profession in Nigeria, salute their doggedness and determination, and honor their memories,” he remarked.