Incessant Building Collapse: Whither Nigeria's Tech?

INCESSANT BUILDING COLLAPSE: WHITHER NIGERIA’S TECH?

        Building collapse has obviously been a thing of tremendous worry in the contemporary Nigerian society, over the last decade. The aberration, which have claimed hundreds of innocent souls, maimed thousands as well as rendered scores of families homeless, has caused a colossal harm to not just the engineering-technology sector but Nigeria at large.

        Statistics indicate that within the aforementioned period, over thirty buildings situated across the country have collapsed unannounced. In March 2006, the top nine floors of a 21-storey building belonging to the Bank of Industry, located on the famous Broad Street – Lagos Island in Lagos State, caved in, killing two and injuring twenty-three others. In August 2010, a 4-storey uncompleted building at Ikoli Street in Garki, Abuja brings the Federal Capital Territory’s name into the list, thus claimed not fewer than twenty-one lives and endangered nine. Just to mention but a few. Though building collapse is not peculiar to Nigeria, its recent alarming rate calls for an urgent attention.

        First, we need to comprehend the rudimentary factors that constitute the societal menace. Building collapse is mainly attributed to substandard products, quackery, mediocrity, cheating, and/or soil texture cum topography, coupled with other environmental factors. The dangers inherent in the use of substandard building materials cannot be overemphasized. These materials such as brick blocks, cement, sand, and rods, are not in any way meant to be used in constructing a boys’ quarter let alone deploying their services in storey building constructions.

        Regarding blocks, it’s either the cements used in the moulding weren’t good enough, or that the sand utilized was nothing to write home about. There are specified sands meant for moulding, but most block industries don’t bother going for them, probably owing to the cost of conveying it to the moulding site. This aspect of cheating is very common. Since people, especially those residing in cities are often in a hurry, they are invariably left with no option than to patronize commercial blocks.

        Another one is quackery and mediocrity. It’s worth noting, perhaps shocking, that most of those who claim to be structural engineers, architects, or what have you, never attended any engineering or architectural class even for a day, let alone becoming professionals. They are just mere quacks parading themselves as chartered technologists. Pathetically, some of them who had the privilege to pass through a higher institution didn’t obtain the required training or expertise, thereby constituting structural defects when contracted to handle a building project.

        A sound and qualified contractor is expected to thoroughly inspect the site for the proposed building, adequately advise the prospective landlord, tactically implement the project, complete it within a stipulated period, as well as know what to do while converting a mere bungalow to a storey building. When any of these professional functions is missing, it becomes a burden to the building in question.

       Away from substandard products and quackery, soil texture or topography, as the case may be, has equally been a thing of great concern while discussing building collapse. Houses are usually built on swampy sites in reverie areas like Lagos and Port-Harcourt, without carrying out the required preliminary design, thus leading to collapse in the nearest future. Such land is not strong – they are sandy or loose, and contractors build on them using templates that are meant for better compacted lands. Sometimes the contractor would know what to do but rather than doing the needful, he would be only interested in his money or what he stands to gain as long as the contract lasts; this aspect of cheating or insincerity is currently on the rampage.

        The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) must take a drastic and severe step towards ensuring that substandard materials are no longer smuggled into the country. They should also, properly regulate the locally made ones.  On the other hand, relevant professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), should employ a stiff measure toward addressing the crisis. When any building is under construction, they should endeavour to ascertain the contractor handling the project to ensure his credibility. And, if a building falls, they must ascertain the root causes of the collapse, and not hesitate to issue the apt sanction to the affected contractor if found guilty. They should also go beyond sanctioning; any culpable individual ought to be arraigned, so that, he will face the wrath of the law.

        Intending landlords are equally advised to consult aptly whenever they intend to erect a building. Don’t just jump to any so-called contractor you find on your way; and if you succeed in contracting any, endeavour to confirm his/her authenticity by visiting/consulting the relevant quarters. Qualified structural contractors, on their part, should feel free to consult their colleagues for any professional assistance whenever the need arises. And, they ought to always be research-oriented.

        Every structural professional must note that foundations and pillars remain basic factors that determine the validity or wellbeing of any building, thus should be taken very seriously. Think about it!      

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

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