Nigeria: Tackling building collapse
By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie
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The increase in the rate of building collapse, despite advancement in technology and the involvement of professionals in the sector, calls for a review of the processes – from building design to construction.
The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) President, Dipo Ajayi, who spoke on the issue at a conference with the theme, “Driving Nigerian architecture through technology”, defined collapse as a state of failure when the structure gives way and most members cave-in, crumble or buckle and the building can no longer stand as built.
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Ajayi said: “Structural defects account for 25.16 per cent of the total causes of building collapse, incompetence, poor supervision and poor workmanship account for 14.19 per cent, use of substandard building materials, 12.90 per cent, faulty structural design and/or no structural design, 9.68 per cent, carelessness, 7.10 per cent, rainstorm/downpour, 7.10 per cent, while weak/faulty foundation account for about 5.81 per cent.’’
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He said: “The Town Planning Authorities should maintain and have adequate and competent professionals in the building industry and provide necessary training for design approval. In other words, only architects and engineers should be allowed to approve the relevant drawings in the approval department.” He canvassed that the public must be willing to alert the government of buildings that are suspected to be a risk to the people in a neighbourhood.
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