NIOB asks Ekiti to make QR codes compulsory on building projects
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The Nigerian Institute of Building's Ekiti State chapter wants QR codes made mandatory on construction sites so regulators can identify registered professionals and trace quacks.
The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has asked the Ekiti State government to make Quick Response codes compulsory on building projects, arguing that the technology would help monitor sites, identify registered professionals and curb quackery linked to building collapses. The call was made at the institute's 19th Ekiti Builders' Conference, held at the Builders' House in Ado-Ekiti.
Adebiyi Adeniyi, chairman of the NIOB's Ekiti State chapter, said a mandatory QR code system would let regulators and the public confirm which professionals are attached to a project and would discourage unqualified people from taking on construction work. He urged the state government to work with the institute and to ensure that professional builders are engaged on public projects.
The conference was themed “Transforming the Building Profession: Strengthening Advocacy and Policy Influence for Effective Housing Delivery and a Sustainable Built Environment.” Adeniyi said it was designed to promote modern construction methods and to push professionals towards digital tools including Building Information Modelling, the Internet of Things and other platforms that could improve standards, efficiency and safety.
Timothy Sunday Ojambati, chairman of the institute's College of Fellows, said building collapses often result from the activities of unqualified individuals without the technical knowledge or practical experience to handle projects, and called for greater public awareness of the need to engage registered builders. He also asked the government to strengthen its partnership with the institute.
Aladetuyi Adekunle Dele, who chaired the conference planning committee, said the theme addressed housing deficits, building collapse, quackery and the need for a technology-driven built environment. In his lecture, Professor Olawuyi Babatunde of Construction Technology, Materials and Structures urged builders to adopt Building Information Modelling, drone technology, digital project management, advanced materials and industrialised construction, and backed QR codes as a monitoring tool.
The proposal comes as Nigerian regulators and professional bodies face renewed scrutiny over enforcement after a series of building collapses in Lagos and other states, with industry groups repeatedly calling for tighter supervision of sites and clearer penalties for unregistered practitioners.