Engineering Regulator in Nigeria (COREN) has revealed that Nigeria recorded 22 building collapses between January to July 2024.
Council for the Regulation of Engineering COREN President Prof. Sadiq Abubakar made the revelation at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
The theme of the news conference was,
The Incessant Spate of Building Collapse in Nigeria in Recent Times-A Call for Sustainable Collaboration by All Stakeholders.”
According to Abubakar; from January to 14 July, alone, at least 22 cases of building collapse have been reported in Nigeria with Lagos accounting for 27.27%, and Abuja and Anambra at 18.18% each.
Abubakar added that Ekiti and Plateau followed with 9.09% each and Kano, Taraba and Niger states accounted for 4.55% 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.”
Similarly in Abuja, about 30 buildings have collapsed from 1993 till date resulting in the death of more than 64 persons and injury of many.”
The most recent occurrences of building collapse close to DMGS Onitsha, Anambra state on June 12 and that of a school (Saint Academy)in Plateau on July 13 where 22 students died and 134 injured as well as the building collapse in Kubwa, Abuja.
Noting that the incidents were worrisome, he said that this calls for deep reflection and collaboration of all stakeholders in stemming the tide.
While we commiserate with all victims and families, we want to commend the efforts of all emergency and security services for their prompt response at the time.’’
The president further noted that the leading causes of building collapse vary from one location to the other.
Abubakar noted that research and investigation conducted over time, have shown that some buildings collapse as a result of ageing, use of substandard construction materials, and structural failure.
He listed the factors to include illegal change of use of buildings, illegal addition of floors, quackery, and inadequate or lack of supervision and oversight.
The president added that other factors were faulty foundations or lack of conduct of soil/geotechnical investigation, and sharp and corrupt practices amongst others.
Also, Abubakar commended the respective affected state governments for constituting a panel of enquiry to look into the various cases to find out the immediate and remote causes and prevent future occurrences.
This is not the time for apportioning blame or contest of superiority within the built environment but a time for all stakeholders to unite and proffer workable and lasting solutions, particularly in the prevention of building collapses
“All professionals within the built environment have a role to play in this.
In this regard, we have identified and categorised many stakeholders that we will be engaging shortly.
He noted that the proliferation of illegal miners within residential areas as reported in some quarters is also a danger to structural stability of buildings.
The president urged affected states to take urgent steps to reverse the trend adding that it is time to enforce the compulsory insurance of some buildings under construction.
Abubakar said that perturbed by incessant and avoidable incidences of building collapse in Nigeria and loss of lives in recent times, COREN has taken some steps in monitoring and preventing building collapse by training and licensing Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) inspectors.
He added that COREN had reconstituted its Council Committee on Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM).
COREN has also added the role of enforcement to its responsibility in line with the amended COREN Act.
According to him; COREN had constituted an ERM&E Task Force at regional levels including Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, FCT, Gombe, and Lagos among other steps to tackle building.
©️ControlTV 2024.
