Director General, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Professor Samson Duna, has disclosed that the preliminary investigation into the Saint Academy building collapse, where 22 students died in Jos, Plateau State, last week revealed that the physical observation of the building looked distressed while weak materials were used for the building.
Professor Duna also enjoined the government and other professional bodies in the construction industry to insist on carrying out integrity tests on all distressed buildings, especially those around the collapsed building site.
Addressing newsmen in Jos, Plateau State, the Director General stated that the investigative committee on the collapsed building, headed by Professor O.F. Job of the Building Department at the University of Jos, depicted that the quantity of concrete in the two-story building was in doubt because there was no boundary between the concrete and the steel reinforcement, adding that the slab reinforcement anchorage provided was inadequate
He stated that the Institute has so far intervened in more than 60 cases of building collapses in Nigeria, added that with Nigeria experiencing an average of 20 building collapses annually, especially during the rainy season, there is a need to fight the menace of building collapse.
The Director General advocated for a multifaceted framework to prevent future occurrences, adding that all organs of government and professional bodies responsible for building construction must enforce strict compliance with building codes, regulations, and standards.
He stated that the country has continued to experience building collapse because there have been no regular inspections and penalties for non-compliance, and from the available records, no one has been sanctioned for negligence or found wanting in relation to building collapse.
“There should be professionalism by ensuring that only qualified professionals like registered architects, engineers, and builders are involved in building projects. In a situation where a contractor borrows a certificate from a professional to execute a job, both the contractor and the owner of the certificate should be sanctioned.
“Public awareness should be reinforced by educating the public on the importance of building safety and the risk of illegal construction. This is necessary because many are not aware of what they need to do before they embark on building projects.”
The Director General of NBRRI suggested collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, professionals, and the public, for the purpose of sharing knowledge and global best practices and called for refresher training among the professionals.