…as NICE Chairman, Engineer Ogundare Wants Public, Government to Patronise Qualified Engineers
Members of the Nigerian institution of Civil Engineers have sentize members of the public on the need to employ services of professionals to prevent incessant of building collapse in the country.
The civil engineers with their counterparts in the other professions of building construction moved round major streets of Ado Ekiti, the State capital of Ekiti State.
Addressing members of the public, Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), Ekiti State Chapter, Engineer Oluwafemi Ogundare lamented the rise in building and infrastructure collapse across the nation.
He said the occurrence had generated substantial apprehension over the safety and quality of construction in the the country, hence the need for urgent action to curb the menace
According to Ekiti NICE, Chairman, challenges such as bribery, corruption, and others do not only lead to the loss of life and property but also erode public trust in the building sector.
Engineer Ogundare explained that to combat building and infrastructure collapse, he proposed the following measures.
“Strengthening Regulatory Framework: Implement stricter building codes and standards, and ensure rigorous enforcement by relevant authorities.
“Quality Assurance and Control: Establish mandatory quality control measures to verify the use of standard materials and adherence to construction practices.
“Structural Integrity Assessment: Every structure constructed with the last 15 years in the state must be subjected to Structural Integrity Test (S.I.T.) and adequate certification must be submitted to an approving body by the owner or developer
“Capacity Building: Provide training and certification programs for construction professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge of best practices.
“Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch educational campaigns to inform the public about the importance of building safety and the risks associated with substandard construction.
“Anti-Corruption Measures: Implement stringent anti-corruption policies and mechanisms to eliminate bribery and ensure transparency within the construction industry.
“Regular Inspections and Audits: Conduct routine inspections and audits of construction sites to identify and rectify potential safety hazards.
“The government of Ekiti State is encouraged to take immediate and decisive action to resolve the issue of infrastructure and building collapse.
“This threat necessitates the cooperation of the public, construction professionals, and government agencies. A more resilient and secure built environment for all Nigerians can be achieved by implementing the proposed solutions”.
In his Goodwill message, Professor Gbenga Aribisala who is a fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers commended the leadership of Nigeria Institution of Civil Engineers for organising the programme and urged members of the public to give construction work to engineers
Also, Architecture AFolusho Awe who is the Chairman of Ekiti State society of Architecture described building collapse as major challenge that need to addressed through engagement of expert.
On her own, the Chairman Society of Engineers, Engineer Tola Alawode noted that involvement of experts in building construction from the foundation level to finishing, would guarantee durability of the structures and protect life of the people.
Position paper was submitted to government representative during the walk for proper and adequate action to check involvement of quackery in building construction.
