Ebonyi Governor Urges End to Professional Rivalry, Decries Quackery at Builders’ Conference

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has called for unity and professional collaboration within Nigeria’s construction sector, warning that long-standing rivalries between builders and engineers are undermining the integrity of infrastructure projects across the country.

Speaking at the 55th Annual Builders’ Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) in Abakaliki, Nwifuru urged stakeholders to set aside boundary disputes and commit to cooperation, ethical practice, and public service.

“We must rise above professional sabotage and jurisdictional disputes that have plagued the built environment. Rivalry should never take precedence over national development,” the governor said.

Nwifuru, a fellow of the NIOB, noted that persistent interference and duplication of roles between professionals often result in confusion, inefficiency, and structural failures that erode public trust.

He also warned of growing public expectations and urged certified builders to take greater responsibility from the preconstruction stage through to completion. According to him, Nigerians are demanding affordable, safe, and sustainable buildings—and rightly so.

He decried the infiltration of quacks into the building profession, blaming the widespread collapse of buildings on unqualified individuals posing as professionals. “These tragedies are mostly the result of unqualified individuals taking up roles meant for certified professionals. This menace must be decisively tackled,” he said.

The governor also lamented poor public understanding of the builder’s role and called on the NIOB to intensify advocacy and public education.

On regulation, Nwifuru urged states that have not domesticated building control laws to do so. He also called for legislative reforms at the federal level to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and protect professional boundaries.

Warning against complacency, he emphasized the need for builders to invest in continuous professional development and adapt to global technological changes in the construction industry.

“As the world moves forward, we must not be left behind. Training and innovation are our tools for relevance,” he said.

He cited ongoing projects in Ebonyi—including ICT and aerospace university campuses, housing estates, and the remodelling of a ten-storey building—as proof of his government’s commitment to infrastructure development and professional engagement.

Nwifuru charged the NIOB to lead the way in ending quackery, deepening collaboration with government and private developers, embracing innovation, and fostering unity with sister professional bodies.

He commended the outgoing president of the Institute for “an eventful and resilient tenure” and urged the incoming leadership to build on the existing foundations with professionalism and vision.

The five-day conference, which runs from August 19 to 23, is being attended by construction professionals, regulators, and policymakers from across the country.