The Federal government says it would soon assemble all relevant stakeholders in building and construction sector to test the integrity of all major bridges and buildings across the country.
The minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji stated this on Wednesday, during a facility visit of the Abuja office of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) in Abuja.
He said the exercise became necessary as one of the strategies to addressing the growing menace of building and bridge collapse across the country.
“NIBRRI is a strategic agency in our national pursuit of innovation, sustainable developments, and infrastructure excellence.
“NBRRI, as one of the foremost agencies in the Ministry, presents enormous promise for the success of the renewed hope agenda of our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, notably in the areas of infrastructure, wealth creation, employment generation, and enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians.
“This maiden visit offers me a remarkable opportunity to witness firsthand the groundbreaking work within these walls.
“The collapse of buildings and bridges is not merely a matter of structural failure; it is a grave social, economic, and safety concern that demands our immediate and unwavering attention.
“We shall soon reach out to and partner with other stakeholders and relevant professional bodies, particularly in engineering, for the integrity testing of all major bridges and buildings across the country.”
He urged NBRRI not to rest on its oars but strive more towards addressing other critical issues, begging for solutions in the road and building sectors of the Nigerian economy.
“Your mission to drive advancements in construction, road infrastructure, and building technologies aligns with our President’s vision for a modern, prosperous, and technologically driven Nigeria.
“It is also heartwarming to learn that NBRRI has substantially implemented Executive Order #5 and other essential policies of science, technology, and innovation in Nigeria.
“As you know, our Ministry places a significant premium on Executive Order #5 to set our country on viable and sustainable economic growth and rapid transformation using Science, Technology, and Innovation instruments and platforms.
“Therefore, your disposition to noticeably implement Executive Order #5 reinforces NBRRI’s leadership role in Research and (R&D) for our nation’s overall growth and development.”
