The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has vowed to monitor the activities of unprofessional builders in Bauchi state to avoid building collapse.
Bauchi state chairman of the institute, Mohammed Garba, who stated this over the weekend while addressing journalists on the occasion of the builders day said the institute will liaise with Bauchi State Development Board to go round to construction sites so they can make observations and corrections.
He also said the institute will organiSe workshops to local builders to train them on some professional techniques.
While reading the message of the national president of the institute, Kunle Abobodu, the chairman urged the federal government to enforce punishment for quacks, adding that lack of enforcement of punishment for quack builders is one of the major reasons for several building collapses in the country.
“There have been many building collapses in Nigeria. Conservatively, Lagos accounts for about 60 per cent of the figure of collapses.
The worrisome question is: How many of those that participated in the construction of collapsed buildings have been prosecuted? How many culpable government officials have been made accountable?
“Even where there have been efforts at prosecution, such sometimes come too little or too late to achieve the required effects of deterrence. Sometimes even other little efforts towards prosecution are either frustrated or prolonged. Sentiments and political considerations have remained the clog in the wheel of justice. The doctrine of consequence is the appropriate method that can eradicate quackery from building sites in Nigeria,” he said.
He warned that a system that tolerates quackery is bound to face
repercussions citing the Ita-Faaji, Lagos Island where a collapsed building killed at 20 people including children.
“Use of experts and specialists will help this nation overcome the menace of building collapse.
“The need for the Nigerian government to get rid of quacks on all building sites in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. The respective states of the federation should prioritise the safety of lives during and after construction by having laws and regulations that meet or exceed the basic minimum requirements of the Nigerian National Building Code,” he said.
