Elerewe made the call in an interview with our correspondent  on Thursday in Abuja.

Elerewe, who is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AIBEN Group of Companies, said that so many factors could contribute to flooding.

“There is no doubt that construction is one of them. Also, if you don’t have a healthy environment, refuse to clear water ways and allow people to build structures without regulations, flooding may occur.

“There are other natural factors that can lead to flooding, which is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, as it is a global challenge.
“However, the federal government should be committed to ensuring that water ways are cleared and that people are not allowed to build structures on water ways. This is very key.

“Government should also strengthen regulations and ensure that people build in accordance with approvals.

“It is necessary that before the rains become heavy, water ways across the country are cleared so that we can have free flow of water and reduce incidence of flooding,” he said.

According to Elerewe, as cities expands, there is the need to expand water ways.

On building collapse, Elerewe, who is also the Vice President of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), said that government should do more to put an end to the situation.

“This is because it has to do with regulations and enforcement. If someone is building out of approved design, then there is someone who is supposed to enforce the law by correcting those involved.

“For example, in the case of the recent building collapse in Ikoyi, Lagos, the builder was said to have had the approval to build a 12-storey building, but instead went for a 21-storey structure. Who do you now blame? It is the authorities that allowed it.

“It is, therefore, it is the regulatory bodies that should compel developers to do the right thing at any given time.

“On our part, we have told our members to be diligent in building their structure so that they can have proper drainage, thus checkmating disasters,” Elewere said.

The AIBEN boss also suggested that building collapse should be criminalised in the country.

According to him, if there is any building collapse that involves loss of lives, the developer or builder involved should be charged with murder and made to face the wrath of the law.