••• Institute calls for government action on building collapse
By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
The Nigeria Institute of Building (NIoB) has called on the Anambra government to make public the white paper of the panel of inquiry on building collapse and implement same.
Mr Kingsley Nweke, Chairman Nigeria Institute of Building (NIoB) made the call when he visited the site of a collapsed 3-storey building under construction in Awka on Thursday.
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra said no fatality was recorded and that the Police had invited the contractor and owner of the project for further investigation.
Nweke described the incident as unfortunate especially in January when rain had not started saying it was too early in the year.
He said there was need for synergy among practitioners in the construction sector as a monopoly in the construction process led to compromise.
The engineering expert said the Government should help with implementation building regulations as approved.
He lamented that there seems to be a lack of manpower for post approval processes.
According to him, there should be a quality control unit in every approval agency which must comprise all the relevant stakeholders in the industry.
“A panel of inquiry was set up last year after the DMGS centenary building and Ochanja market Collapse.
“The panel has submitted its report but we are still waiting for the government to produce a white paper and implement some of the recommendations.
“There is a need to ensure enforcement on the part of the government, to ensure professionalism in the industry,
“If they are not implementing all the recommendations, they should implement the key ones for us to avoid this type of embarrassment,” he said.
Nweke commended the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) for moving with excavators to remove debris and to look for possible victims.
He said there was no record of death and the loss from the incident was only property and money by the owners of the project.
“Projects like this should have a consultant architect, a consultant structural engineer, a resident builder to ensure that the design, the structure and processes are thoroughly followed.
“This problem continues because when it happens, they only look out for casualties instead of conducting a forensic investigation,” he said.
