With Joke Adeniyi-Jackson
When an undergraduate of one of the tertiary institutions in Kwara State simply identified as Jimoh moved in to occupy a section of a two storey building at Oba Alajo Compound, Kuntu area in Ilorin, he never had the inkling that it is his corpse that would be evacuated from the house, few months after. Had he known the ill fate that would befall him, the ‘house of horror’ wouldn’t have been an option.
Unlike Jimoh, other occupants of the house escaped death by the whiskers but suffered wanton loss of property. Shortly before then, three persons suffered degrees of injuries when they fell victim of building collapse at Sulu Gambari Way within the metropolis. The victims were working at the construction site when the incident occurred. Sometime in June, there was also a building collapse at Tanke area of the state capital, which claimed the life of a bricklayer while another was grievously injured. It would be recalled that four students of a secondary school in Alagbado area of Ilorin, Kwara State, had close shave with death last year, after a two-storeyed building under construction collapsed on them. The students were said to be running errand for a teacher at the time. Aside these incidents, there abound unreported cases of structural failure in Ilorin, which have resulted in the loss of lives and property.
Before now, building collapse was not an issue that could generate concern in the state unlike other cities like Lagos where such happenings are daily occurrences. It is for this reason that the trend of building collapse in the state is worrisome and calls for concern by the state government and relevant authorities.
It is undisputable that a building that is properly constructed would have a longer life span. Structures, either temporary or permanent need to be properly planned, designed, constructed and maintained to obtain the desired satisfaction, comfort and safety.
But sadly, specifications are not followed in construction, consequently resulting in building collapse. These ugly trends have brought about enormous pain and grief to people given the huge loss of investments in housing and attendant loss of lives.
This ugly development can be blamed on regulatory agencies as well as the state government.
Regulatory bodies like the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) and also the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), are some of the professional regulatory bodies saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring professionalism and ethical standard in the construction industry.
Most of these professional bodies are charged with the accreditation of building professionals as well as regulating their practice, but little has been achieved in averting incessant cases of building collapse.
Obviously, regulatory agencies have failed in their duty to monitor building contractors to ensure they adhere to standards and quality of materials deployed in the construction of structures especially storey-buildings in the country.
It has been observed that engagement of nonprofessionals for building construction and sharp practices such as use of substandard, have contributed immensely to the menace generally. These bodies are expected to look out for improper designs, poor quality materials and improper site practices, identified as major causes of structural failure.
To tame this ugly trend, government and concerned authorities need to take proactive measures. This includes a legislation to deal with cases of negligence on the part of developers and quacks who fail to use professionals in the execution of projects. In essence, legislation is inevitable to curtail cases of collapsed buildings and the fatal consequences, as it will help guide activities of operators in the housing sector.
It is also pertinent for the professional bodies to introduce sanction against unprofessional conduct in the building sector. There is need for increased professionalism on one hand and sanctions on the other hand and stringent enforcement of existing laws against unethical conduct in the building profession. Such that any professional found wanting will not only lose license to practice but will be appropriately punished, so as to serve as deterrent to others. To also curb quackery in the sector, quacks must be arrested and prosecuted. Since quackery has been identified to be responsible for many of the substandard buildings.
There is also the need for coordination between the professional bodies and the town planning authority. There have been cases of illegal conversion of buildings, which often lead to structural deficiencies, in flagrant disobedience to town planning regulations by developers and landlords. These can be stemmed if there is proper collaboration between the professional bodies with the government agency. The Town Planning Authority should as well ensure thorough supervision of buildings at all stages.
Government on its part should also provide an enabling law for the training and effective control of artisans and craftsmen in the building industry.
A regular audit of defective structures must be carried out and such structures marked for demolition before they cause havoc on lives and property.
Government should, in addition, intensify public enlightenment on how building disasters could be prevented as prevention is better than cure.
Incontrovertibly, shelter is a basic need of man for survival and habitable safe buildings will guarantee better life.
It therefore behooves the state government to safeguard human lives and property. The present administration must be seen to be doing enough to curb the menace of collapsed buildings in the state.
