By Don Peter Okoro.
The Nigerian Institution Of Civil Engineers (NICE) on Saturday the 25th of January 2025 organized a program tagged
“Walk Against Building And Infrastructure Collapse”
in the 36 States of the Federation including the FCT. In Anambra State, the event was a huge success as the Chairman of the Anambra State Chapter of NICE, Engr.High Chief Alex Ifeagwazi mobilized members of the Institution for the Walk.
The Walk took the Civil Engineers from Aroma Junction to the Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS), down to The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) Office, across the Three Arms Zone, close To The State House of Assembly, The Alex Ekwueme Square and back to Aroma Junction. Speaking to the Press shortly after the walk, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institution Of Civil Engineers Anambra said that over 553 buildings have collapsed in Nigeria since 1974 and that there are over 12 typical cases of building collapse in Anambra State in recent times.
He stated that the reason for the Walk is to raise awareness and sensitize the public on the dangers of building collapse and the need to stop patronizing quacks.
That they as Civil Engineers are always ready to assist the Governments, Groups and Individuals to make sure that works are being done to standard specifications. He revealed that the Event is taking place all over the country. Asked if there are other factors responsible for building collapse apart from quackery, he replied:
“There are many factors that cause building collapse. The reason we keep on mentioning quackery is that if we fail to put the a square peg in a square hole, so many ugly things will continue to happen. A quack can never know the bearing capacity of a soil where a geological study is involved. A quack can never know the cement, block or stone that is of good quality. A quack can never know the right sand, like sharp sand, soft or plaster sand to be used at a particular time and the right quantity. A quack does not know that there is Filling Materials, like laterite to fill a foundation. A quack does not understand the Structural Design of a building. He may not even look at the Architectural drawings of a building. A quack cannot understand the work of a Town Planner to know what has been zoned for a particular kind of building. He can go to where has been designated for only bungalows, due to the nature of the soil and erect a high rise. And before you know what is happening the building has collapsed. And we have two categories of quacks. We have the Non Professional Quacks and the Professional Quacks.”
He further appealed to the relevant Authorities to put Laws and Measures in place to safeguard the building of structures in the land. In his words:
“There have been lots of Technical Papers Presentations and at the end nothing comes out. These Laws that have been passed towards curtailing these ugly incidents should be revisited. We have the Building Codes and all, but the problem is enforcement and implementation.”
He called on Government to involve Professionals in the oversight functions of supervising building projects, saying:
“You cannot have an Architect where a Civil Engineer is supposed to be involved. Let them put the right peg in the right hole in Government Establishments that are responsible for oversight functions of supervising building projects. And the National and State Houses of Assemblies should put relevant Laws in place. Thank you.”