Chibuzo Ihegboro
Housing experts under the auspices of the Building Collapse Protection Guild (BCPG) have proposed solutions to the spate of building collapse in Nigeria.
BCPG’s new-elected president, Yusuf Sulaimon Alabi, unveiled these plans at the group’s annual general meeting which was held recently in Lagos.
Alabi in his acceptance speech vowed to always promote the ideal of BCPG without compromising standards. He stressed that his leadership would ensure to promote the engagement of professionals in the procurement and management of Buildings and infrastructural development in Nigeria.
According to the BCPG National President, his leadership which would run from 2023 to 2024, will focus more on preventing building and infrastructural collapse rather than pursuing collapsed buildings in our Society.
Speaking on some of the measures they would pursue to tackle building collapse, Alabi said his administration would seek the establishment of New BCPG chapters in the States. He said the group would move to collaborate with the State Government in ensuring the domestication of the National Building Codes and enforcement of the same.
Alabi also vowed to promote acceptable building standards through Public Awareness Campaign on best practices in building and construction of structures and create awareness using Community Development Associations and Residential Associations in the activities of the Guild to prevent building collapses. “The National Executive will also focus on promoting and instituting neighbourhood alerts on poor construction works and buildings showing signs of structural failures.
“We will also establish youth wing of BCPG in Secondary Schools to promote awareness and interest in Building Right and preventing collapse of Buildings. And supporting Government in the enforcement of the National Building Code and the State Building Code, which contains guidelines for Code Enforcement Officers in every State of the Country”, he added.
According to Alabi, they will also increase collaboration with organisations like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and also ensure training and re-training of Artisans in the modern ways of Construction and improve the skills of Artisans.
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“The task ahead is enormous, but with the cooperation, commitment, and proper understanding among members of the BCPG, the members of the Public, the Press, and the support of the Government, the prevention of building collapses is achievable in Nigeria”, Alabi said.
In addition, the immediate past president, Engr. Eddy Atumonyogo, lamented the rash of building collapse incidents that occurred in 2022. He charged all stakeholders with working together to reduce the number of casualties.
Atumonyogo decried that the Guide still has a lot of work to do in convincing governments to collaborate with it in monitoring construction activities to ensure best practices, as well as educating the public about the importance of hiring competent professionals to manage their developments.
“Despite all the efforts in the year 2022, there were still a total of 62 collapse of buildings, either partially or fully. 23 states had incidence of partial or full collapse of buildings, with Lagos State topping the chart with 20 incidences,” Atumonyogo said.