Professionals in the building sector have called on the Federal Government to harmonise all the laws guiding building construction in the country so as to reduce the incidences of building collapse.

An estate surveyor and valuer, Mr. Olayinka Omotosho, said at a symposium organised by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Ikeja Cell, that with proactive measures, the incidences of building collapse would end.

“The Federal Government should harmonise the National Building Code and Building Efficiency Guidelines. If the National Building Code is implemented with consistent enforcement, incidences of building collapse can become history in Nigeria,” he said.

He said, “There should be the establishment of vocational training centres. Soil investigation is also very vital before construction. Wrong foundation on a soil is very dangerous. There should be adequate supervision by the architects and engineers throughout the construction period.

“The influx of substandard building materials should be contained and controlled by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. Hence, the collaboration between the SON and BCPG should be strengthened. We believe it is also time to strengthen the bond between the varying professionals in the built industry as we consistently work towards various means of advancing the industry and militating against the recurrence of building collapse.”

The President, Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment, Prof. Oladapo Adeyemi, said there was a need to incorporate geoscientists in pre-construction investigation for structures in the country.

“This will prevent incessant failure of structures, especially buildings, in our country, the giant of Africa. Geoscientists in Nigeria have to be given their deserved recognition and role in construction of buildings. This is the case in developed countries where even a bungalow cannot be constructed until a geoscientist has had an input,” he said.

Adeyemi added that with collaboration between geoscientists and foundation and structural engineers, structural failures would be reduced to the barest minimum.

The Head, Department of Building, University of Lagos, Dr. Olumide Adenuga, said maintenance of buildings should be regularly undertaken to restore and improve them, and toalso avoid dilapidation.

Adenuga said maintenance would help in defect elimination, proactive risk reduction and failure avoidance, among others.

The BCPG Ikeja Cell Coordinator, Mrs. Iyabode Bolarinwa, said poor maintenance culture could shorten the lifespan of buildings.

“That is why we are using this forum to appeal to building owners, estate and facility managers to give priority to regular maintenance and use appropriate professionals for maintenance work to avoid shoddy jobs,” she said.

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The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babtunde Fashola, has urged operators in the built environment to improve their skills in order to reduce the frequency of building collapse being recorded across the country.

Fashola, who spoke at the 29th annual conference of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers in Abuja, also outlined some of the major causes of building collapse based on studies conducted by his ministry.

In his keynote address, the minister stressed that residential and commercial structures should be designed and constructed in a manner that would ensure structural stability, adding that Nigeria had recorded a fair share of collapse of engineering structures, especially buildings.

“One may ask why we have frequent building collapse in Nigeria. Some of the causes include lack of adequate specification, inadequate design, absence of or inadequate supervision by relevant agencies and experts, poor workmanship, use of fake and substandard building materials, poor and incorrect method of construction, and aging buildings.

“Although in Nigeria we don’t usually believe that a building can age, but truly it can age. Other causes include the use of unqualified contractors, non-adherence to building regulations and bye-laws, corruption and force majeure.”

The minister added that reliable statistics had shown that building collapse in Nigeria dated back to 1985 and had remained a challenge across the country.

“Therefore, the theme for this year’s conference, ‘Issues on Failure of Engineering Structures in Nigeria’, is not out of point,” he observed.

He noted that it was common knowledge that engineering structures were designed and constructed for specific purposes and stressed that such structures must be safe.

“History has shown that the effect of failure is very devastating. Therefore, a high level of skilled professionalism is needed to address the possible causes of structural failures, which may be at the stage of the design, construction or supervision,” Fashola said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the President, NIStructE, Mr. Oreoluwa Fadayomi, said the theme for the conference was chosen in order to discuss issues relating to the failure of engineering structures like buildings, roads, bridges, drains, culverts and dams.

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Mercy Iyortyer is the President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. In this interview with MAUREEN IHUA-MADUENYI, the first female president of the professional body says quantity surveyors are needed more now for prudent costing of capital projects in the face of dwindling resources

What effect is the current economic situation of the country having on the profession of quantity surveying?

The current economic situation is having far reaching effect on quantity surveying practice in Nigeria just like it is having on all activities in the construction industry. It is usually the case that when there is a downturn in economic activities of a country, the construction industry is normally the first casualty. Government slashes expenditure on construction projects. Consequently, quantity surveyors, being professionals involved in cost and procurement management of capital projects, have been negatively affected. It is worthy of note that in some other climes, the government channels resources into the housing and construction subsector as a deliberate strategy of stimulating the economy, because of its multiplier effects, and it is our hope and prayer that the government will borrow a leaf from that.

The Senate recently passed the Public Procurement Act, 2007 Amendment Bill, what does this mean for the quantity surveyor?

There seems to be low awareness of quantity surveying even in government; what is your take on this and what can be done to change it?

We are trying our best to step up awareness about the quantity surveying profession in Nigeria. Rome was not built in a day. Presently, we are engaged in sustained advocacy visits to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government and other major stakeholders in the industry to raise awareness on the inherent competencies of quantity surveyors. We have also engaged the media in these awareness efforts. The efforts will continue as we have no intention to relent.

Where does the quantity surveyor come into play considering the economic downturn and the need to get maximum value from infrastructure projects at this time?

Quantity surveyors are experts in the total cost and procurement management of capital projects. They are also trained and equipped to ensure value for money on infrastructure projects. So, engaging quantity surveyors will go a long way in ensuring that the government realises maximum benefits from its investment in capital projects. We are needed now more than ever for prudent costing of capital projects so as to achieve optimal use of the dwindling resources occasioned by the fall in oil price and its attendant effect on the economy.

Most professionals in the built environment complain about foreign incursion.What has been the NIQS’ experience in this regard?

This is indeed a disturbing phenomenon to all professionals and more particularly to those of us in the built environment. Nigerian professionals are highly proficient in their chosen fields of expertise. So, denying them participation robs them of rewarding engagements and opportunities of upgrading their skills and capacities continually. There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel, as we understand that the proposed amendment of the Public Procurement Bill by the National Assembly is to wholesomely address the local content initiative.

What has been the biggest challenge of quantity surveying in Nigeria?

The biggest challenge to quantity surveying in the country has been and remains the failure of the government to fully take advantage of the inherent competencies of quantity surveyors and engage them in critical infrastructural projects across the country.

Building collapse has for some time now remained a topical issue. How can quantity surveyors help to end this menace?

Building collapse incidences have been on the increase and this means that we still have not got it right as a people. As quantity surveyors, we encourage clients and building owners to always get to know the cost estimate of their projects from qualified and registered quantity surveyors before commencing any construction work.

It is obvious that the major causes of building collapse revolve around cost avoidance. If quantity surveyors are engaged to provide prudent costing of projects, clients and building owners can plan and execute their projects properly without compromising on designs, approval and construction processes. All stakeholders’ hands must also be on deck to fight this ugly and deadly incidence of building collapse.

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The Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria has revealed plans to introduce training programmes for all professionals in the built environment so as to address the issue of sub-standard houses in the country.

The association said the move became necessary as more buildings were collapsing across the country and in Lagos State in particular.

The President and Chairman of Council, AHCN, Mohammed Adamu, revealed the plans at the inauguration of association’s office complex in the Ikeja Central Business District of Lagos State.

“The association is ready and willing to partner the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and state ministries of housing to execute these campaigns through the training of ministries’ staff on one hand, and professionals in the built environment on the other hand, for the development of the housing sector,” he said.

According to Adamu, it has also become necessary to address the issue of housing shortage in the country estimated at over 17 million units.

He added, “For us as an association, we have taken time to re-examine our impacts over the years and we realised that we need a new direction and focus to be able to meet the housing needs of our people. For this reason, we are finalising a new policy of reducing and eradicating homelessness within a very short time from now.

“We are therefore coming up with a programme that we tagged ‘ERAHOMS’, which is basically aimed at reducing and eradicating homelessness among our people. The proposed programme is part of our efforts to provide affordable housing for Nigerians, especially those who are interested in using the National Housing Fund to purchase the housing units.”

He noted that the major targets would be contributory workers, especially civil servants in states remitting their deductions to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria regularly.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, stated that housing corporations in the country should channel their efforts towards mass housing development to reduce the current deficit.

Ambode who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr. Adebayo Dipe, urged the association to look inwards on how to provide affordable housing, which would in turn create job opportunities for the youth.

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