The Hon. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sen. (Dr) Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora laments over loss of lives and properties in the country as a result of the incessant building collapse as he ascribed this menace on indiscipline among building professionals.
The Hon. Minister who spoke on Tuesday, 6th December 2022 at a special summit on building collapse, with the theme “Review of Building Collapse in Nigeria: A Critical Outlook and the Way Forward”, organized by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, NBRRI in Abuja expressed the above in his speech when he was declaring the one-day Special Summit open.
He said there is an alarming level of indiscipline across board in the system, which must be addressed to end the unfortunate development in the country. For him, the nation cannot develop under indiscipline and called on all professionals in the building sector to go beyond laws by applying their professional ethics where members default to deter others from the act of indiscipline.
Sen. Adeleke, who commended NBRRI for consistently organizing educative and informative forum on building collapse for stakeholders in the road and built-environment, the academia, Research Institutes, Professional bodies, Industry and Government called for increased funding for research and development to move the nation from resource to knowledge-based economy. He urged NBRRI not to rest on its oars but strive more towards addressing other critical issues that are begging for solution in the road and building sectors of the Nigerian economy, assuring that the Ministry as a parent Ministry of NBRRI will continue to support the Institute towards achieving its vision, mission and mandates which are designed to make it a research center of global repute and standard.
Earlier in his address, the Board Chairman of NBRRI, HRH. Eze, (Dr) Uche Egenti, (mon) emphasized the need for more support for NBRRI to reposition the agency and enhance qualitative research that is needed in the Built and Road sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
He also called on Federal Government to continue to provide adequate funding and increased staff strength to NBRRI in order for Research and Development to strive which will in turn add to the growth and development of the country.
Quoting the Board Chairman, he stated “Permit me to state here that the NBRRI Governing Board has been working hand in hand with the management of NBRRI towards realizing the vision and mission of the Institute. On our part, the Governing Board will continue to support the Institute especially the management towards meeting its set goals and the general aspiration of the public”.
In his lead paper, titled: Evaluation of Building Collapse Incidences in Nigeria from 2012 – 2021, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NBRRI, Engr. Prof. Samson Duna said, “it is shameful for professionals to allow buildings to collapse due to human errors”.
The DG, who blamed building collapse on corruption stated that NBRRI have investigated above 50 building collapses in the country with majority owing to similar causes of collapse. The DG never failed to explain some major challenges faced by NBRRI Team in accessing collapse sites during investigations of building collapse. This he stated that some state governments and site contractors are hostile and secretive in allowing the team to gain access or provide vital information about the building. He then listed some key causes of building collapse as: use of sub-standard materials, poor workmanship, poor supervision, absence of professionals, lack of proper topography and inadequate designs.
To avert further building collapse in the country, he called for compulsory adoption of integrity test on every building, regular supervision, regulation of practitioners and elimination of quacks. He also called for punishment of defaulters by professional members and the state.
He however, charged participants to come up with resolutions that will stem the tide of building collapse in Nigeria.
NBRRI put together the seminar to address issues on Building collapse in the country with a view to strategically move the industry forward by bringing together researchers, scientists, academician, relevant stakeholders and experienced experts from within Nigeria to collectively discuss and brainstorm on causes and effects of building collapse in the country.
The papers presentation section which was chaired by the immediate past DG of NBRRI, Engr. Prof. Danladi S. Matawal gained a rich audience and contributions from participants as six (6) papers were presented by various professionals and law maker:
1. The Potentials and the Challenges of Legislative Frameworks Towards the Mitigating of Building Collapse: An Update on the Nigerian National Building Code. (Hon. Engr. Solomon Maren – Member, Federal House of Representatives)
2. Structural Design and Construction Supervision as Sustainable Tools to Prevent Building Collapse in Nigeria. (Dr. Oyenuga V. O)
3. Quality Control Issues and the Proliferation of Collapsed Buildings in Nigeria. (Tpl. Muthar Galadima – Director, Development Control, FCDA)
4. Ground Variation, Geotechnical Uncertainties and Reliability of Foundation Design for Sustainable Building Infrastructures. (Fidelis A. Abija PhD, FNAEGE – Centre for Geomechanics, Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Port Harcourt)
5. The Challenges of Urban Management and Building Quality Control in Nigeria. (Tpl. Moses Ogunleye)
6. An Overview of Construction Artisans Competencies and Training against the Backdrop of Recurring Incidences of Collapsed Buildings in Nigeria. (Bldr. Anthony Okwa – Project Director, C-STEMP Skills Training)