INCIDENTS OF COLLAPSED BUILDINGS: PREVENTIVE/CURATIVE MINDSET AS PANACEA?

In 2022 alone 62 incidents of collapsed buildings 

occured in Nigeria. Towards the end of 2023 more than 

half of 2022 figure had occurred; raisins the question

whether measures are in place to abate the occurrences. 

Of course we'll know it's both national as well as states

issues. 

Let me start from acknowledgement of the

establishments of Building Code Advisory Committee

(BCAC) and Building Collapse Prevention Guild and the

mischief of their establishments. 

If the provisions of the National Building Code are

observed to the letter why do we have rampant incidence

of building collapses and defective structures leading to

accidents? Apart from security threats, loss of lives and

properties arising from these avoidable incidents it has

raised questions about the efficiency and capability of

professionals and government agencies responsible for

enforcing the provisions of the relevant laws.

These days it seems to me that we need to move fast 

with updates and amendment of our laws. The building

code was established long before digitalization, therefore

 it would not be out of place to ask for requirement

digitalized construction of structures to tally with global

standards.

There seem to be lapses along the line of all agencies

responsible for enforcement. We have to start from

creating awareness of the law sine Nigeria is largely rural

in construction compared to advanced countries. The

awareness is also necessary for those who apply and

enforce the laws.  For instance those who issue

approvals for buildings and constructions going on in the

communities should be held responsible in tort.

Many professionals are involved in the building and

 construction industry and it would be unfair to single out

 one professional for blame.  However, it amounts to

 criminal silence on the part of Quantity Surveyors and

 Construction and Cost Management professionals not to

 whistle-blow or report when buildings are being set up

 without proper compliance with relevant laws,

 specifications and approvals leading to their collapses.

Within six weeks into 2024 there have been several

incidents of collapse of defective structures arising from

fire or poorly constructed structures in Abia State.

The government should tackle the menace headlong.

Ikechukwu Odoemelam Esq 

https://selar.co/m/ikechukwu-odoemelam-esq1

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