Building Collapse: Architects seek stringent punishments for erring builders

Following consistent cases of building collapse in the country, the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), has sought for stringent sanctions for erring builders.

The Institute, at a briefing of its 28th edition of Archibuilt in Abuja attributed the incidents to poor building designs, low capacity of contractors as well as use of substandard building materials.

Director, Archibuilt Development Services Limited (ADSL), Arc. Umaru Karaye disclosed that as a result, the institute has decided to deny producers of substandard building materials access to exhibit their products during the 2017 Archibuilt exhibition.

He decried situations where reports of investigations conducted on collapsed building are not made public.

His words: “You need to have a stringent sanction when you find the culprit. It is very important but in most cases, when you hear of building collapses, after some days everybody forgets and nothing happens. We don’t get to know the outcome of investigations, actions taken thereafter and then another incident happens.

“All these years we have been hearing, we hardly hear the outcome of the investigations and the sanctions. These are the issues.”

He added that, “Design, materials used, method of the construction and capacity of the contractor, supervisory roles of the professionals as well as maintenance of the building are major issues to check during incident of building collapse.”

“There is need to find out if it is design, materials used, method of the construction, capacity of the contractor, supervisory roles of the professionals. So it could be any of these. It is only when you do these that you find out the appropriate causes and that is when you can take the right action.”

“In most of the buildings that have so far collapsed and the professionals involved were probed, you realize that they are not actively involved in the supervision because the owner may want to cut corners or reduce the cost of construction.”

He called for implementation of recommendations suggested by the group of experts, who embarked on the probes.

However, he said the exercise would ensure that materials which met the appropriate standard would be allowed for exhibition.

Karaye tasked Architect Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Council for the Registration of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) among other regulatory bodies to continue in their supervisory roles.

The event themed, “Promoting the development of Building Materials and Services for the Nigerian Market,” would focus on housing finance, development of construction technology in the country as well as requirements to achieving green ratings for materials and building.