Construction professionals want strict sanctions for failed buildings contractors
Despite contributing a little above 3 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2014, the building and construction industry continues to be rattled by some challenges, one of which is the frequent cases of building collapse or failures.
Worried by this reoccurring incident, industry professionals say strict sanctions should be meted out to contractors whose building fail either during or post construction.
According to them, these strict sanctions will not only compel contractors to employ the appropriate level of man-power relevant to projects, but also ensure necessary supervision and approvals are obtained at every level of construction.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Construction & Engineering Service group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Kashim Ali, president, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), explained that the non-enforcement of existing regulations and the non-sanctioning of erring persons to deter others, have remained a major reason for rising cases of building collapse.
Kashim who attributed the major cause of building failure to man-made errors, argued that with the menace still on the increase, despite increasing diffusion of engineering knowledge over the years, the need for some re-examination of developments in building production and control processes has become imperative.
According to him, clients’ penchant for cutting corners is also another reason for the rising cases of building collapse, adding that recent studies have linked most failed buildings to private developers who are always looking to alter building designs to minimize cost.
The COREN president who fingered the activities of quacks, use of substandard materials, deficient structural designs, alteration of approval drawing, absence of proper supervision as other causes of building collapse, explained that all of these short-comings could cease to exist if registered professionals were employed to execute projects.
“For instance, a structural engineer has the primary assignment to ascertain a building’s structural integrity, by ensuring that the purpose for which it is commissioned is not compromised, therefore, he must be properly vast in the skill, but currently we see masons transform to ‘engineers’ and ‘builders’ over night, and these are some of the quacks who deliver buildings that eventually collapse,” he said.
He however, acknowledged that the dearth of trained and experienced personnel in all cadre of the industry has also contributed its quota, urging government at all levels to see the need to re-train artisans in their various fields using experienced tradesmen and resources.
Likewise, in a bid to checkmate the use of substandard and inferior products such as reinforcing rods, cements from being used for construction, Kashim proposed a proper certification programme to be carried out to ensure that only tested materials were used at construction sites.
“The manufacture of building materials such as blocks must cease to be an all comers’ trade, but manufacturers should be limited to certification through training; similarly, steel manufacturers must accompany each consignment leaving their premises with certificates showing steel type, diameter and and characteristic strength,” he advised.
ODINAKA MBONU