Buildings collapse in Nigeria: Chartered Architects solicit Professional Regulatory Bodies collaboration with NBRRI
By ABIODUN JIMOH
Association of Nigerian Chartered Architects have remarked that to forestall further collapse of buildings, the role of Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), must be highlighted and complemented by Professional Regulatory Bodies in the building and construction industry.
This was contained in a release jointly signed by the president and national secretary of the Association, Arc Noyor E. Omatsone and Arc. Dr. ‘Koye Jolaoso, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday.
They expressed on the necessity for these bodies to collaborate with NBRRI to ensure stricter enforcement and implementation of decisions arrived at in previous inquest, to avoid reoccurrence.
They noted that as the head of the building team, their involvement in issues of building collapse to ascertain and ultimately work towards forestalling is imperative. Whereas it may be generally accepted that buildings fail due to structural collapse, the structure of a building begins with the architectural configuration of the building.
“The role of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute [NBRRI], a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, with the mandate to conducting applied and integrated Research and Development into various aspects of the Nigerian Construction Industry, must also be highlighted and complemented by Professional Regulatory Bodies in the building and construction industry.
“According to NBRRI, the institute has been investigating and researching into every building collapse in the country and preparing technical reports thereof, to use as a case-history in teaching and research.
“Professional Regulatory Bodies in the building and construction industry also need to ensure that her members are abreast with these findings, in order to increase awareness.
“It is therefore our informed view that a holistic overview of the operations of the Nigerian Building and Construction Industry needs to be undertaken to ensure that checks are put in place to forestall further collapse of buildings and also to ensure appropriate reprimands where and if they happen.”
Meanwhile, they reiterated the importance of the ARCON Project Registration Number (APRN) and the urgent need for its full compliance and enforcement nationwide on all building development and construction projects in Nigeria.
“The APRN is a mandatory registration number issued to all architects/architectural firms practicing in Nigeria for each of their projects, to certify that the projects are being executed by fully registered architects and are eligible to prepare, produce and submit architectural projects for building plan/implementation permits; as well as to receive such approvals when given.
“It is intended to, amongst others, help in the combat against the scourge of building failure and collapse through the elimination of quackery. It provides daily update on APRN projects registration for the records and onward transmission to the Development Control authority.
“It also helps in keeping track of architects/architectural firms responsible for the design and supervision of their projects, as well as enables ease of compilation of statistical data on the Nigerian building industry, being an important ingredient for National planning and development.
“Therefore, the workings of the monitoring, compliance and enforcement units of all the relevant Professional Regulatory Bodies and enabling regulations need to be re-jigged for effective and efficient performance.
“This will go a long way to reverse this negative trend in the industry and help to rebuild confidence in the public and end-users, of the competence and capacity of professionals.”
