4 November 2009
Abuja — With the collapse of buildings now a common place in Nigeria, the decision to focus this year's recently held 'Archibuilt' on quality building materials did not surprise observers.
Archibuilt, a yearly building materials expo organised by the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), holds in August every year.
For many stakeholders, the only way to check such collapse is to put in place a legal frame work that would force builders to use quality materials.
Coming a few days after the collapse of Amazing Grace Plaza in Asokoro, Abuja, this year's edition had as its theme "The Evolution of National Building Materials Policy."
Dr Hassan Lawal, Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development, in a keynote address, called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Building Code which has been in the Assembly for three years.
"That code will evolve a framework for sustainable building materials policy for the country," he said.
He said that the code would engender a policy that would regulate the manufacture, importation and application of building materials in the construction industry.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Adamu Aliero, asked the builders to address some areas, including wealth creation, from construction waste.
He also tasked them on environment friendly practices in construction, as well as the need to minimise cost in building programmes.
But of utmost concern to him, he told the Forum, was the high incidence of collapsed buildings, especially in the FCT.
"I have seen and heard enough and I am hoping that I have seen the last of such occurrences.
Aliero said that the Development Control Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), had been given orders to clamp down on builders who do not follow the building code.
Mr Eric Chukwuka, the President of NIA, noted the barrage of criticisms from all angles. He promised a better future for buildings.
"If we adhere to the provisions of the building code, the issue of building collapse will be reduced, if not completely eliminated.
"Buildings do not collapse on drawings but the materials and workmanship used to construct the buildings," he pointed out.
Chukwuka decried the constant use of sub-standard materials and unskilled labour, a situation, he said, could compromise the quality of the structure.
According to him, most collapsed buildings in the country belong to private developers who do not like employing the services of architects because they want to cut cost.
"Obviously, there will be a difference between the job of a professional and a non-professional.
"It is either the developer doesn't know the difference or he is just applying 'Nigerian factor'," he said. Chukwuka observed, however, that most of the private developers were influential people.
"So when their buildings collapse, nobody prosecutes them," he lamented.
He promised an enduring policy document which, when presented to government, would serve as a template to check the availability of sub-standard building materials.
An exhibitor at the Forum, Mr Nicholas Achums, who spoke on the quality of building materials in the country, suggested that the yearly event should afford participants the opportunity to share experiences and exchange ideas on how to improve on their products.
"The exhibition is an opportunity to acquaint builders with new technologies and designs in the construction industry." Achums said.
He advised the public to always patronise the exhibition to get acquainted with new and qualitative building materials and insist on their usage in their projects. To do that, he advised organisers to always ensure adequate publicity to give the exhibition the kind of patronage it deserved.
Mr Richard Odion, another participant, agreed with Achums.
"The public have the right to know the right materials so that they are not short-changed by engineers. So we must always let them know when the exhibition is held," he said.
But with the Building Code bill still before the National Assembly and without a legal framework in place to check and regulate the industry, experts fear that not much can be achieved for now. They have therefore called on stakeholders to prevail on the National Assembly to pass the building code to ensure the legal teeth to regulate building activities in Nigeria. (NAN Features)
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