Nigeria's Housing Ministry to Enhance Construction Regulations

The Nigerian Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, led by Minister Muttaqha Rabe Darma, announced plans to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at improving construction standards and curbing quackery in the building sector. This initiative is intended to reduce the incidence of building collapses across Nigeria.

The announcement was made during a meeting with the Leadership Council of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), headed by Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, in Abuja on Monday.

Minister Darma emphasized the necessity of stronger regulations in the construction sector to enhance public safety and increase the industry's contribution to Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He stated that the government would not permit unqualified practitioners to continue operating in this critical sector.

The Ministry plans to present a draft policy for stakeholder review later this month, which will be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval to address recurring challenges, including building collapses and enforcement of building codes.