The Nigeria Institute Of Building has described as unfortunate the collapse of a three storey building at number 112 Bende street in Port Harcourt town. Though no life was lost, valuable properties worth millions of naira were destroyed as a part of the building serving as residential apartment and shops.
Chairman of the Nigeria Institute Of Building in Rivers State Ugochukwu Ohuabunwa in an interview with our reporter said it is a failure on the part of the government to have allowed the building stand after marking it for demolition. He said that, that building was standing against public interest. He stressed that it is wrong for them to mark the building and walk away.
Mr Ohuabunwa however revealed that assuming anybody died, they would go to court and make sure that whoever marked that building and didn’t follow it up will face the law. He said it is a negligence and a total failure on the part of the authorities that are concerned. He therefore call on the relevant agencies to as a matter of urgency enforce the law to save lives and properties.
The Rivers State chairman of the Nigeria Institute of building also said that the incidence of building collapse would be avoided if the right professionals were involved in the process. He said sometimes when building collapse, people say it is poor materials, which could be true. But the core reason according to him is lack of professionalism.
He further explained that the only person who is trained for building production and management is the builder. Adding that in the building industry, they have about seven professionals. And these professionals play different role, and they are trained and licensed to manage the building from foundation to the roof. He however advise that professionals should be allowed to do their job.
