Building collapse has conspicuously been a
thing of tremendous worry in the contemporary Nigerian society over the last decade
that only drastic attention is required towards addressing it.
The
aberration – which has 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. In some
quarters, it has made most residents to now sleep with one eye open.
Statistics
indicate that within the aforementioned period, countless buildings situated
across Nigeria 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.
Survey reveals that between 2012
and 2016 alone, Nigeria recorded about fifty-four building collapse. Though the
unfortunate situation is not peculiar to the country, its recent alarming rate
calls for an apt and 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 mere boys’ quarters 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.
Since people, especially those
residing in cities are often in a hurry, they are invariably left with no
option than to patronize such block firms as stipulated above, hence posing
danger for the proposed structure.
Quackery and mediocrity cannot be left out.
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 certain 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 affected
building.
Away
from substandard products and quackery, soil texture or topography, as might be
the case, 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.
The aforementioned type of land is
not strong. They are sandy or loose, but 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 Service (NCS) must take a
drastic and severe step toward ensuring that substandard materials are no
longer smuggled into the country. The former 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), ought to employ a stiff
measure towards 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 equally go
beyond sanctioning; any culpable individual ought to be arraigned, so that, he
will face the wrath of the law.
Intending landlords are also 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 enquiring from the relevant
authorities.
Qualified structural contractors, on
their part, ought to feel free to consult their colleagues for any professional
assistance when need be. And, they should always be research-oriented towards
enhancing their expertise.
All in all, every structural professional
mustn’t be reminded 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!
FDN Nwaozor
CEO, Docfred Technologies
_______________________
+2348028608056
Twitter:
@mediambassador
