Experts canvass modern building solutions to spur growth in construction industry
Worried by the slow growth of the country’s construction industry, experts in the sector have canvassed modern building solutions to spur growth in the industry, stressed the need for builders to restrain from obsolete building methods to enable the sector attain its full potential.
The experts at a forum in Lagos tagged ‘Totally Concrete West Africa’ explained that modern building solutions such as ready mixed concrete and metal formwork have been certified in other climes to deliver more durable projects and could also help shape the future of the construction industry.
Despite Nigeria’s huge infrastructure deficit which translates into immense opportunities for the construction industry, the sector has continued to grow at a snail speed as builders continue to show more penchant for outdated building technique rather than modern building solutions.
Other challenges such as lack of well qualified site staff, desire to cut cost, lack of enforcement of current regulation, the experts said, could also be conveniently tackled with the aid of these new building solutions.
Speaking at the forum, Charles Uko, a professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Uyo, explained that the adoption of these modern building solutions such as ready mixed concrete not only offers precise concrete mixture, but also ensures specific quantity and quality of mixtures are developed and implemented at sites.
Uko who argued that many construction sites lacked the required manpower to control site concrete mixing, equipment that can ensure good quality concrete, however, maintained that with modern building solutions, challenges such could be dealt with.
He further proposed that the use of new building solutions should commence at the urban areas, with investment incentives to encourage new startups in the area.
“Major cement manufacturers should invest in this area and professional associations should be encouraged to recommend these new solutions to their members,” he advised, adding that there should also be some legislation with appropriate enforcement to drive the new trend.
The professor also canvassed for specialist contractors for the construction industry, pointing out that most “major contractors” lacked adequate staff to handle some service areas, hence a special contractor will significantly improve the overall quality of work and indigenous contractors capacity to compete internationally.
According to him, these unique contractors should specialise in reinforcing steel services; piling services; pre-stressed concrete services and produce concrete precast.
Assessing the concrete industry in the outgoing year, Uko noted that the sector’s growth was stalled over a couple of issues. “It was not interesting for the industry due to the catastrophic collapse of major concrete structures and the ‘unnecessary’ debate over the effect of cement grade on collapse of structures”, believing that the issue ended up solving nothing as it was based more on sentiments than facts and worse still hijacked by non-professionals.
Totally Concrete West Africa was organised by Hypenica, an international media group that serves its markets by connecting buyers and sellers, sharing information and experiences, identifying new opportunities and enabling more effective business.
ODINAKA MBONU