Licensed Builders Identify Reasons For Spate Of Building Collapse

WITH frequent incidents of build­ing collapse, many industry players have concurred on the need to adhere to building codes, use of quality materials and observing safety protocols, all of which are nearly absent due to increasing number of quacks who offer cheap labour and lower prices, but with grave consequences.

Recommendations to address the issue include increasing funding for regulatory bodies, establishing effective monitoring units, providing continuous professional training, conducting public awareness campaigns and ensuring that only accredited professionals handle construction projects.

A victim recounted how her apart­ment suddenly collapsed. She had moved into her new apartment, along with two children and was full of hope for the future. However, “within a year, cracks appeared and the building showed signs of severe stress”, she said. “One tragic evening, as we were having dinner, the building began to collapse, burying us all under the rubble”. Strug­gling to hold back her tears, she added “I and one other kid made it out. I lost my youngest child and sustained life-threatening injuries.”

Investigations revealed that the build­ing was constructed by an unqualified builder, using substandard materials and ignoring safety regulations. The above case is not an isolated incident. Between 1974 and 2019, over 221 buildings collapsed across Nigerian cities, with Lagos alone witnessing 167 cases between 2000 and 2021, accord­ing to the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).

These collapses have displaced over 6,000 households and caused an esti­mated property loss of $3.2 trillion, the BCPG reports. In Nigeria’s building and construction sector, a troubling chal­lenge persists, which is the widespread proliferation of quacks. These individu­als engage in construction work without the necessary licenses, certifications, or expertise. This include graduates of pro­fessional courses who have yet to obtain relevant licenses and work without the supervision of a licensed expert.

Subsequently, experts have bared their minds on the menace. Kingsley Cletus, an architect licensed with the Architects Registration Council of Nige­ria (ARCON), highlighted severe conse­quences, such as structural failures and building collapses when unqualified individuals design building structures. He explained that buildings designed by unqualified individuals often re­quire extensive repairs or complete reconstruction, resulting in significant financial losses for owners. Additionally, he stated that quacks may overlook es­sential aspects of design, such as proper ventilation and natural lighting, leading to unhealthy environments. Incorrect designs can also increase the risk of fire due to improper electrical layouts and lack of fire safety measures.

“Quacks often overlook essential de­sign aspects like proper ventilation and natural lighting, leading to unhealthy environments. Their incorrect designs can also increase the risk of fire due to improper electrical layouts and inad­equate fire safety measures.”

Not adhering to local building codes, inability to manage building space, overdesign and sub-par designs, and competition with quacks who offer lower prices for substandard work, thereby undermining professional in­tegrity, are additional impacts of quacks in the architectural space, as the archi­tect identified.

Also, a licensed civil engineer and construction management advisor, Babatunji Adegoke accredited by the Council for the Regulation of Engineer­ing in Nigeria (COREN), emphasized that unqualified individuals, who are not licensed by relevant regulatory bodies, remain undocumented and unaccountable.

“This lack of oversight allows them to engage in practices that violate COREN regulations.” He stressed the need for civil engineers licensed with COREN who are acutely aware of the importance of adhering to regulations in building execution to be in charge, as negligence could lead to disastrous consequences and the revocation of their licenses.

“This accountability ensures that licensed professionals remain diligent, a safeguard that quacks do not have. Licensed civil engineers understand the critical importance of adhering to regulations because any negligence can result in disastrous consequences and the loss of their licenses. This level of accountability ensures that we remain diligent and responsible, unlike quack builders who operate without such safeguards”, Adegoke stated.

A builder accredited by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (COR­BON) and practicing in Lagos for over a decade, highlighted that the quest for cheaper construction options has led to the rise of unqualified builders, result­ing in critical issues. He pointed out that licensed builders strictly adhere to building codes, obtain necessary permits, use proper techniques, conduct essential soil tests, and maintain strict safety protocols.