Operatives seek revival of Nigeria’s steel industry

To ensure the stability of buildings and curb incidences of building collapse, eggheads in the construction industry have called for the revival of Nigeria’s steel industry.

The experts, which include builders, engineers, administrators, academics, regulators, and other built environment professionals from within and outside Nigeria, spoke at first national virtual workshop organised by the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).

They noted that reviving the nation’s steel industry for production of standard steel inputs will address the problem of building failures. They also called for more synergy between the structural engineers and the builders who are both saddled with the responsibility for the stability of buildings and collaboration among built environment professionals for the benefit of the society.

NIOB’s president, Kunle Awobodu, who set the tone for the workshop, said the workshop was one of the Institute’s practical and proactive steps towards addressing the unwarranted and embarrassing menace of building collapse in Nigeria.

He reiterated that registered builders are the professionals empowered by training and law to manage building production processes and thus need to remain abreast of fundamental principles of mechanics as well as other principles of science and their applications.

The Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Professor Kabir Bala, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, noted that the issue of building collapse in Nigeria continues to be a concern for builders and other professionals. He underscored the need to continue to update knowledge in order to fully maintain best practices.

Also, a past president of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NISTRUCTE), Dr. Victor Oyenuga, called for the Nigerian version of the Eurocode for structural design. He also urged academic and research institutions to investigate the engineering properties of local stones in Nigeria, especially in the South Eastern states.

This, he said, would be useful to guide design of concrete mixes and corresponding construction.A past Vice President of the Australian Institute of Building, Graham Teede, highlighted the need and readiness for further collaboration between the Australian Institute of Building and the NIOB for greater efficiency and improved performance in the Nigerian building industry.

For an associate Professor in the Department of Construction Economics and Management, University of Capetown, Abimbola Windapo, there is need for mandatory use of documents such as construction methodology, prepared by professional builders, for managing the building construction processess.

She further called for procurement methods that integrate the inputs of design and construction professionals from the design and planning stages for public projects.

For the Managing Director of Ove Arup & Partners Nigeria Limited and a past president of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, Kunle Adebajo, there is need for team work to realise the projects.

The Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure to the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, an engineer who commended the organisers of the programme. The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Abiola Kosegbe, an engineer sought the cooperation of professional bodies in the built environment.