House Reps Mandate Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure strict adherance to building code

by Blessing Ojochenemi Onje James · December 7, 2019

The Chairman, House Committee on House Services, Hon. Olawale Raji said one of the major factors responsible for building collapse in Nigeria is lack of effective monitoring and control by relevent government organizations saddled with the responsibility to maintain standard in line with international best practice.

“Lack of effectiveness of government agencies responsible for monitoring building procurement and construction processes, is one of the major challenge in the industry,” he said.
Speaking with newsmen in an interview, Raji who is representing Epe Federal Constituency of Lagos State observed that other factors leading to building collapse include “negligence on the part of contractors, client and professionals, faulty designs, lack of professional supervision and adherence to the building code, quackery at pre and post contract stages and the use of substandard materials, among others.”
Raji who had earlier moved a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives titled “Need to Curb the Rising Incidences of Building Collapse in Nigeria,” urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to implement the National Building Code in order to regulate construction in the country and safeguard lives and properties of citizens.

Following his motion, the House “urged the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to sanitize the building materials sector to get rid of sub-standard goods in the markets;
“Urged the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) and the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) to ensure proper supervision of workmen and to further carry out sensitization campaigns to enlighten the public on the need to use quality materials and professionals in the construction of buildings;
“Called on the Federal Ministry of Work and Housing to liaise with the Building Collapse Prevention Guild to carry out an assessment of buildings prone to collapse in order to alert residents and avert impending loss of lives and properties;
“Urged the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and other professional bodies to investigate and penalize their members involved in cases of building collapse.”
The Houes mandated its Committees on Works and Housing and Habitat to ensure implementation of the resolution.
Raji had in his motion gave account of recent building collapse in Nigeria “the collapse of a two-storey building in Surulere Lagos State on October 25, 2019, in which five persons were rescued and an earlier incident in Magodo area of Lagos State on October 12, 2019, which claimed the lives of a mother and her three children, leaving at least six others injured;
“Notes that the incidences of building collapse across the country have reached alarming proportion, with less than 60 cases within the last 4 years, according to a report by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, resulting in the tragic loss of lives and destruction of property;
“Recalls the collapse of a three-storey building that was housing a primary school in Ita Faji area of Lagos Island on March 13, 2019, causing the death of 16 persons;
“Also on November 23 2018, a seven-storey building under construction collapsed in port Harcourt causing the death of 13 persons;
“On December 10, 2016 the roof of Reigners Bible Church International, Uyo caved in during a service programme killing about 200 persons and on September 12, 2014 a six storey building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed, killing 116 people.”