By Joy Odor
The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has advocate that to check the deadly collapse of buildings in Nigeria, there is need for a Law or Act on enforcement and compliance of the approved National Building Code by the National Assembly (NASS).
President of the Council, Engineer Ali Rabiu, who stated this to newsmen in Abuja after a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja on Tuesday stressed that there is also the need for the enforcement of the use of standard materials and collaboration of all the professionals to collectively visit construction sites as a team.
“All state governments are advised to domesticate the codes. The Forum of Regulatory Bodies in the Built Environment (FORBEN) should drive the bill.
“For implementation and Enforcement, it is recommended that the government should set up a construction court to handle cases of misconduct” he said.
Engineer Rabiu, lamented that the development control officers largely contribute to the collapse of buildings in Nigeria, saying most of them are not qualified and should be held responsible for most of the collapses.
According to Rabiu, there should be a mechanism to ensure that only registered professionals are engaged by client’s, stressing that there has been indiscriminate use of non-professionals who have no role in project supervision.
The COREN President said apart from using sub-standard materials, most projects do not follow construction procedures.
He maintained that non verification of building design, substandard materials, non legislation and enforcement of national building code by the national assembly, among others, formed reasons for building collapse in the country.
“This must be strictly compiled with in the built environment. All state governments are advised to domesticate the codes. Forum of regulatory bodies in the built environment should drive the bill.
“For implementation and enforcement, it is recommended that the government should set up a construction court to handle cases of misconduct.
“Education of the populace is necessary. Advocacy, education of the public and continuous engagement of government should be pursued particularly by associations in the built environment” COREN, noted.
