Nigeria Lacks Resources To Investigate Building Collapses – COREN

Joy ChukwuJuly 21, 20242 Mins read114

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has raised concerns about the frequent building collapses across the country, stating that Nigeria lacked the ability to effectively investigate these incidents.

During a recent press briefing in Abuja, COREN President, Professor Sadiq Abubakar, stated that while building collapses are not unique to Nigeria, the nation’s lack of expertise, equipment, and resources to investigate and prosecute those responsible is an issue.

We can’t investigate building collapses in Nigeria. We don’t have the expertise, the equipment, and the resources to do so,” Abubakar said.

He said the use of substandard materials, structural failure, illegal conversion of buildings, quackery, and inadequate supervision during construction contribute to the building collapse in the country. He added that the rising cost of cement and the use of undersized reinforcement rods were contributing factors.

Abubakar revealed that from January to July 14 this year, 22 building collapses have been reported in Nigeria, with Lagos accounting for 27.27 per cent of these incidents, Abuja and Anambra for 18.18 per cent each. He added that Ekiti and Plateau followed with 9.09 per cent each and Kano, Taraba and Niger States accounted for 4.55 per cent each.

As a matter of fact, over 91 buildings have collapsed resulting in the death of over 354 persons in Lagos from 2012 to date, he added

Despite commending the efforts of emergency services and security agencies in responding to these incidents, Abubakar called for the collaborative effort of all stakeholders in stemming the tide, stating that building collapse was a national emergency that required a coordinated approach to address.

Meanwhile, Dr. Samson Opaluwah, Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, has called for the urgent enactment of laws to enforce the National Building Code, which has been approved by the Federal Executive Council, saying:

Specifically to stem building collapse, the immediate enforcement of provisions of Sections 2.44 and 2.62 of the National Building Code (2019) which require the submission and usage on site of Builders Construction Methodology, Builders Project Quality Management Plan, and Building Construction Programme prepared by a registered builder, in the construction of building projects.

West Africa Weekly reported that the Jos school building collapse which trapped at least 200 and killed many students, as well as the the Abuja two-storey building collapse, are recent incidents that add to this incessant menace.

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