Builder Wants Federal Government To Mitigate High Cost of Building Materials

The Federal Government has been called upon mitigate the high cost of building materials in the country.

The Managing Director of Lafe Buildings and Property Ltd, Ibadan, Mr Abiodun Olowolafe made the call while addressing some stakeholders in the built environment in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Mr Olowolafe decried the high cost of cement, iron including other materials that did not go through manufacturing.

"One could ascribe the cost of production and low competition in the sector as reasons for the skyrocketing prices of some these materials, but it worrisome that some of our people, particularly middle men are now taking advantage of the situation to exploit fellow citizens".

He said the high prices of materials was impeding on quality of jobs in the build environment as it promoted the prevalence of quackery and increasing the risk of using substandard materials for construction work.

"Now when a qualified builder billed for a job within the context of the market value of materials, prospective clients might find alternative in quackery who might charge less, but use low quality materials, a development responsible for collapse buildings and poor projects".

Mr Olowolafe suggested that it would be unfair if activities in the built environment was left to the factors of demand and supply alone, adding that encouraging more players in the sector becomes imperative.