By: Tijani Salako.
The Nigerian housing sector is facing a severe shortage of experienced artisans, leading to increased costs and delays in project delivery. Stakeholders in the built industry have expressed frustration over the lack of skilled artisans, which is affecting the quality and affordability of housing projects.
In an interview with the Managing Director of RealtyPoint Ltd, Mr. Debo Adejana, the dearth of experienced artisans is resulting in half-baked and unprofessional services, wasteful practices, and dishonesty. He noted that the few experienced artisans available are becoming increasingly expensive due to demand and supply dynamics.
Another stakeholder, Mr. Chucks Omeife, a chartered builder and former President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), attributed the shortage of artisans to the lack of transparency and accountability in the industry. He also cited the national remuneration system, which he described as “skewed” and discouraging for young people to pursue careers as artisans.
Despite government initiatives aimed at addressing the shortage, such as the SURE-P programme and the National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF), the problem persists. Experts are calling for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the shortage, including deliberate policies to engage artisans in national and state capital projects.
The Managing Director of Realtypoint Ltd emphasized the need for intense supervision to ensure average quality work, due to the dearth of skilled professionals and the prevalence of quacks in the industry.
The current infrastructural deficit in the country presents an opportunity for engaging artisans in the construction industry. The country is dotted with training centres for artisans and other trades designed and implementation
Unfortunately, most of the trainees after graduation do not follow up on the expectation of the programme. Government must put in place a deliberate policy of engagement after training to encourage all levels of manpower.
However, stakeholders are urging the government to put in place policies like artisans integration policies that encourage the engagement of artisans and provide opportunities for their training and development.
