Collapse
By Ella Anokam
Abuja, April 3, 2018 (NAN) Some professionals in the built environment in Abuja on Tuesday blamed frequent cases of building collapse in Nigeria on tribalism, a lack of inspection and quackery.
Two persons died and many others were injured on Sunday after a storey building situated at No 9, Abeje Street, Morikaz Road in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State collapsed.
Tthe professionals attributed frequent building collapse in Nigeria to tribalism, lack of building inspectorate and peer reporting, as well as high patronage of quacks.
Dr Beni Goka, Executive Director, Construction Finance, National Assembly Staff Housing, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that tribalism, poor training of professionals and ill-experienced practitioners contributed to the problem.
“At many sites today, the key person responsible quite often would place his town’s man as lead constructor or supervisor even if he is less qualified or inefficient.
“Other factors are that the so-called professionals are poor graduating professionals or ill-experienced practitioners.’’
Goka appealed to Construction Finance Companies to play a key role with insurance companies to tackle the menace.
Another expert, Mr Abdulfatai EFTY, a board member of the Chicago Association of Realtors, U.S., noted that for quackery and collapse in the building sector to stop in Nigeria, professionals should regulate themselves.
EFTY called for timely intervention of the Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Nigerian Institute of Building and other stakeholders to stop building collapse.
“Now is the time to get their shine on by not waiting for the government but by self-regulating in the interim.
“Self-regulation for now can come in form of setting up or updating the present building codes not only on paper but making sure members adhere to them.
”Sanctions and punishment can be meted out to members and the whole world is made aware whenever this occurs, this would set the tone for everybody to know that the associations are not playing,’’ he said.
He urged finance companies to play a very crucial role by ensuring release of construction loans in “draws” after thorough inspection and approval by independent licensed inspectors as practiced globally.
“This Inspector must be well-paid so as not to be influenced with money. Thus a well paid independent inspector that screws up knows he or she would go to jail.
“Independent inspectors can be made to sign a contract stating that they shall be held responsible and liable for jail terms for any building collapse after an investigation has been conducted.’’
Prof. Martin Dada of Department of Building, University of Lagos, also called for advocacy for the enactment of a law to enforce provisions of the building code.
“Let us keep this in the front burner, not waiting for annual collapse cycle. Let us continue to engage all stakeholders, including our lawmakers, to this effect.
“Let sub-national entities, specifically the states, do their part. Let the professionals arrange themselves to start using the code which stipulates irreducible minimum conditions for all stages of building project delivery,’’ Dada said.
He appealed for a way out of the building collapse quagmire through building condition survey.
“There is need for a baseline, an overarching holistic framework. The building code is that minimum benchmark, there are provisions for periodic condition surveys in the code.
“Private inspection can be accommodated in the code,” he noted. (NAN)
ELLA/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie