NICE, Lagos materials’ lab seek end to building, infrastructure collapse

Professionals, under the aegis of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) Lagos chapter and the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), have stressed the need for Nigerians to use the right professionals to reduce the alarming rate of building collapse.

They made the call at a sensitisation walk organised by NICE in conjunction with the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory. Speaking at the forum titled: “Say no to building and infrastructure collapse”, the Chairman of NICE, Faith Oko-Ukoni, said the gesture is part of the commitments of the professionals towards sustaining advocacy, stepping up policy and ensuring containment of the menace of building collapse in Lagos.

Nigeria has recorded a series of devastating building collapses in recent years, resulting in loss of lives, injuries, and economic losses. The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) disclosed that over 50 building collapses occurred in Nigeria between 2010 and 2020, claiming hundreds of lives.

Oko-Ukoni said: “We know that building collapse cannot be abolished, but we can reduce it. We advocate for the right professionals to build our building and infrastructure.”

The NICE chairman explained that through improved advocacy, and awareness programmes, people are educated on the need to get the right people for their building projects.

The General Manager, LSMTL, Olayinka Abdul, also emphasised the need to engage the right professionals for building projects from inception of construction to the end, adding that all building protocols must be observed throughout the process,

The GM urged residents not to pick people at random for their building projects, noting that there are many intricacies in building systems. According to her, if all the building processes and systems are strictly adhered to, building collapse would drastically reduce in the state and the country at large.

A past national chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Mrs Funmilade Akingbagbohun, advocated the use of registered civil engineers in construction projects.

According to her, registered civil engineers play a critical role in ensuring the safety and sustainability of buildings. They possess the necessary expertise, skills, and experience to design, construct, and maintain buildings that meet international standards.

“While registered civil engineers are essential to preventing building collapses, enforcement and regulation are equally crucial. Governments and regulatory agencies must ensure that building codes and standards are enforced and that developers and contractors are held accountable for non-compliance,” she said.

Akingbagbohun commended the efforts of LSMTL, NICE and its national chairman, Tokunbo Ajanaku to drive advocacy against building collapses. She further stressed that it is a call to action for all stakeholders to prioritise safe and sustainable infrastructure by working together to prevent building collapses and create a safer society.