NBRRI raises concerns over building collapse

The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) has expressed concerns over cases of building collapse recorded across the country in recent past. Director General of NBRRI, Prof Danladi Matawa, who spoke in Lokoja at the second Kogi Built Environment and Building Materials (BEBM) Exhibitions, informed that in 2013 alone, a total of 28 people […]

The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) has expressed concerns over cases of building collapse recorded across the country in recent past.

Director General of NBRRI, Prof Danladi Matawa, who spoke in Lokoja at the second Kogi Built Environment and Building Materials (BEBM) Exhibitions, informed that in 2013 alone, a total of 28 people were killed following building collapse recorded across the country.

He identified the use of substandard building materials, faulty designs, inadequate/poor supervision of building projects, poor workmanship/use of unskilled labour, lack of enforcement and cases of corruption in the built industry as some of the factors responsible for incessant cases of building collapse.

The DG, who was represented by Mr Daniel Makawa on the occasion, said there was need to declare national emergency against the use of substandard building materials, adding that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) should checkmate the influx of substandard building materials into the Nigerian market.

He also emphasized the need for the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other relevant bodies in the built environment to address the challenges of quackery and lack of professionalism in the industry.

Earlier, the Executive Director of BEBM, Builder Oladipo Bayode, said the event was to bring together professionals/stakeholders in the built industry to ensure better and safe housing development in the country.