Sanni Marvelous
The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) has urged registered builders nationwide to enforce professional standards and take responsibility for eliminating quackery in the building industry ahead of the full deployment of newly gazetted regulations in 2026.
The charge was issued by the Chairman of CORBON, Bldr. Samson Ameh Opaluwah, in a New Year message to registered builders on Friday, where he reviewed the achievements of the Seventh Council and outlined its priorities for the coming year, with emphasis on professionalism, safety and accountability.
Opaluwah said the council’s tenure, now nearing its end, has been marked by significant transformation driven by digital reforms, legislative gains and international partnerships aimed at repositioning the building profession for national development. He described the period as a defining phase for the regulator and thanked registered builders for their support.
He acknowledged the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, for backing CORBON’s engagement with government and approving two key regulations—the Operational Regulations for Builders’ Practice and the Regulations for Health and Safety on Building Sites—both gazetted by the Federal Government in 2025.
According to him, the gazetting of Federal Government Gazette No. 160 and Gazette No. 161 marks a major turning point for site monitoring and enforcement. He described the documents as “the non-negotiable benchmarks for site monitoring,” adding that their adoption has equipped the Council’s Project Evaluation and Monitoring Unit (PEMU) to enforce professionalism and “eradicate the influence of unqualified individuals on site.”
Opaluwah said the Seventh Council, inaugurated to strengthen the role of builders in Nigeria’s development agenda and expand professional practice, remains committed to these objectives until the end of its tenure.
He listed other achievements to include the digital overhaul of CORBON’s operations through the Builders Management Portal (BuMaP) and the i-Reg portal, which now automate membership records, licensing and financial accountability. He said the reforms have positioned CORBON as “a modern and transparent regulator.”
The council also expanded its registration categories to include technologists, technicians, artisans and related professionals, a move Opaluwah said was aimed at recognising diverse skill sets, improving regulation and promoting inclusivity in the industry.
On workforce development, he disclosed that 1,544 builders were registered and licensed over the past three years, bringing the total number of registered builders in Nigeria to 4,521. He said the increase would help ensure the availability of qualified building services across the country.
To strengthen oversight of the built environment, Opaluwah said CORBON deepened collaboration with other regulatory bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), to enable coordinated site monitoring and close regulatory gaps.
He added that the council secured approval for the inclusion of builders in the Manual of Financial Administration of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and recognition of builders’ certificates for SCUML registration, while expanding its international presence through partnerships with the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and its role as Co-Lead for Africa in the UNESCO-UNEVOC BILT Project.
Looking ahead to 2026, Opaluwah said CORBON will prioritise the nationwide deployment of the gazetted regulations as the main framework for site audits, the unbundling of the building profession to create specialised career pathways, and the operationalisation of the Builders in Diaspora Committee to integrate global best practices into the local industry.
He used the message to issue a direct call to registered builders, stressing that the profession’s relevance in national development “will not be given; it must be maintained through the quality of our output.”
“I therefore charge every Registered Builder to,” he said, urging them to “Own the Regulations,” adopt Federal Government Gazettes 160 and 161 as their professional creed, “Stay Competent” through CORBON’s bi-monthly capacity-building workshops, and “Lead with Integrity,” ensuring that all project sites reflect safety, structural integrity and quality workmanship.
Opaluwah said the council remains committed to providing the leadership and tools required to curb quackery and building collapse in Nigeria, calling on builders to work collectively towards “a Nigeria where professionalism is the only standard.”
