Global Surveyors’ Day: Experts Call for United Front to Address Building Collapses, Professional Misconduct

From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna

Kaduna, Nigeria – Experts in Kaduna have proposed establishing a Built Environment Professional Ethics Council (BEPEC) to address ongoing issues of building collapses and ethical breaches in Nigeria’s construction industry.

The idea was introduced during the 2026 Global Surveyors’ Day celebration organized by the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Kaduna branch, with the theme, “Surveyor Challenges in Multi-sectorial Growth.”

Professor Binta Abdulkarim from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, who delivered the keynote address, stated that Nigeria’s built environment industries have operated as isolated entities for too long, allowing quackery and ethical violations to thrive between different professional groups.

At the core of the proposed reform is the One-Strike, All-Out Protocol, a mutual recognition agreement under which all regulatory bodies would automatically blacklist any professional found guilty of misconduct by one organization.

Professor Binta detailed the Tripartite Covenant, which aims to reform the industry through joint anti-quackery task forces, a unified digital database, and cross-disciplinary mentorship.

The proposed BEPEC would oversee a shared registry of all licensed practitioners and maintain a blocklist of sanctioned individuals and firms, thus safeguarding the public. Surveyors, responsible for measuring land, valuing assets, and managing spatial data, are seen as natural leaders of this initiative.

NIS Kaduna State Chairman, Surveyor Samson Maikano, highlighted the importance of professional collaboration, stating, “When we collaborate and respect each other’s roles, development is more coordinated, efficient, and sustainable.”

“Surveying is the foundation of every development,” he stated, adding that surveyors are the first on site and the last to leave.

The gathering included surveyors and other professionals in the built environment sector, all of whom called for greater recognition and support from the government.

Surveyor Samson appealed for the creation of a conducive environment for surveying and related professions to thrive, including access to modern equipment and ongoing training for surveyors.

Surveyor Abdulnajeem Mohammed Lawal, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, remarked that the celebration provided an opportunity for surveyors to reevaluate and strategize on ways to improve their services to clients and colleagues.

He emphasized that synergy and collaboration are vital for achieving shared goals.

Surveyor Musa Ephraim, Council Representative for Kaduna State, NIS, discussed the challenges facing surveyors in Nigeria, including government policies that do not favor the profession.

He urged policymakers to establish supportive policies and ensure that surveying tasks are assigned to qualified professionals.

The event also highlighted the importance of motivating youth to pursue surveying as a career. Surveyor Ephraim noted that attracting young talent is hindered by the demanding nature of the profession, but efforts are underway to raise awareness and encourage enrollment in surveying courses.

The event concluded with a pledge from the Kaduna State Branch leadership to lead this collaborative effort, emphasizing that Nigeria’s infrastructure safety and investor confidence depend on a united, ethical front.