Effects of the covid-19 induced lockdown on building approval and compliance in Minna.Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The world has been ravaged by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to the loss of lives and disruption of livelihoods. These primarily result to high infectious and death rates and also, due to the lockdown order imposed by governments around the world. The building industry has similarly been affected owing to a dip in the operations of regulatory agencies, and this may result in the non-adherence to building standards by developers (especially in the developing countries). The implication of which is the probable addition of low quality housing units to the existing poor and deteriorating housing stock. Consequently, this study statistically determined the differences in the numbers of development permit applications, building permits granted, and contraventions observed during the six months preceding the imposition and the six months after the suspension of the COVID-19 lockdown in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. The research utilized data from both the primary and secondary sources whereas descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test analysis) were employed in the data analysis exercise. The outcome of the study showed that, in comparison to the pre-lockdown period, there were lower incidences of building applications, permits granted and observed contraventions in the post-lock down period. The study also revealed that there existed a statistically significant difference in the numbers of building applications received, while there were no statistically significant differences in the numbers of building permits granted, and contraventions observed respectively within the periods under review. The study, therefore, recommended the development of an internet-based building application and approval system to sustain the operations of the regulatory agency by eliminating in-person contacts. The study similarly recommended the imposition of sanctions on incidences of developments without permits and /or contraventions.