How KonstructApp helps eliminate Quackery in Nigeria’s construction industry

On the 13th of May 2019, a three-storey building in Lagos Island collapsed killing 18 people with over 100 people sustaining different forms of injuries.

The news sent grief across the nation as Nigerians deplored the horrible state of building construction in the country.

Over the past 10 years, the nation has witnessed a number of building collapse that has claimed the lives of many Nigerians. But despite its occurrence, many Nigerians out of ignorance continue to patronize quacks for their construction projects.

Building collapse can be attributed to several factors such as structural failures, substandard materials, poor workmanship, faulty design, inappropriate foundation, poor supervision, and the use of quacks. However it is easy to see that the biggest culprit in building collapse is the human factor.

This is where government agencies responsible for building control, Standards Organization of Nigeria and various professional bodies have a role to play.

While sensitization has been ongoing for many years, implementation and control of approved construction guidelines has been marred with inefficiencies.

It is for this reason that the platform KonstructApp was created to help reduce and consequently eliminate the incidence of building collapse in the country. You would agree that this is a big mission, one that requires support from all Nigerians.

Launched in January this year, KonstructApp is already seeing increase in downloads from its app on Playstore and Appstore. KonstructApp is providing a single platform where Nigerians can hire vetted construction professionals and artisans. It has provided an app where every construction professional and artisan can register. They are then thoroughly screened to remove quacks and inexperienced professionals and artisans from its platform.

KonstructApp is open to all professionals from architect, engineers, surveyors, geologist, to artisans such as carpenters, welders, plumbers, tillers, and bricklayers. Anyone using the platform can rest assured of getting only qualified construction professionals.

The good thing about the app is that clients can read reviews about each professional or artisan before deciding to engage them.

This presents a lot of opportunities for Nigerians in the construction service industry. KonstructApp is trying to organize the construction industry to make it possible for professionals and artisans to find clients easily.

Nigeria’s population is growing rapidly with the National Population Commission(NPC) projecting it to hit 400 million people by 2050. This will create an unprecedented demand for housing and construction services.

Platforms such as KonstructApp could play a significant role in building Nigeria’s growing housing and infrastructure needs through the supply of vetted construction professionals and artisans.

Nigeria’s construction industry is worth over $10 billon and it’s one of the biggest contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

KonstructApp is playing in a very big market. If it continues in its vision to reduce quackery in Nigeria’s construction industry it could help sanitize the industry while at the same time helping to unlock millions of wealth for the country’s professionals.