To tackle flooding, Nigeria needs proper building rules, says NIA

By : Tina Agosi Todo, Calabar

Date: 29 November 2022 4:42am WAT

[FILES] Commuters travel in boats as vehicles are abandoned on the East-West highway severed by flooding, bringing to a halt the traffic and economic activities, in Niger delta region of Ahoada, Rivers State, southern Nigeria, on October 21, 2022. – More than 600 people are now known to have perished in the worst floods in a decade in Nigeria, according to a new toll released on October 20. The disaster had also forced more than 1.3 million from their homes, said a statement by Nigeria’s ministry of humanitarian affairs, released on Twitter. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA) has said Nigeria needs a proper building code to tackle flooding ravaging communities across the country.

The new President of the Institute, Mobolaji Adeniyi, said the matter was already on the front burner. He stated this during an interactive session with newsmen shortly after reading the communiqué at the end of its 62 Annual General Meeting at the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC).

The conference had the theme: “Architecture: A Resource for Health and Well-being”.

Speaking on building collapse in Nigeria, she identified factors responsible, ranging from the use of substandard building materials to unprofessional contractors.

Adeniyi said the solution is to engage only licensed professionals.

“Building collapse involves a multi-disciplinary approach because many people are involved. Even the materials used for the construction, which, in some cases, are substandard, are also a factor. The most important step to take is to ensure that licensed professionals are in place.”

“We do collaborate very well and we have the segment for the construction industry were the architects, the engineers, all of us collaborate to ensure we are discussing these issues. We have the Building Collapse Prevention Guild and it involves architects, engineers and builders, among others. We make sure these professionals take care of their own part of the building construction process.”