Building Collapse; Professional…Prosecution
Developers, Stakeholders and non-players in the construction industry were incensed (because of loss of lives) about the recent collapse of a three storey building claiming four lives at Abimbola street, Ilasa, Lagos. Problems of building collapse are a gamut issue that academics, researchers and professionals have written literatures and manuals on it. Notable among them in Nigeria are Prof Sadiq, Prof Falade; the former my supervisor and the latter my lecturer at University of Lagos.
I will talk on two things here and I shall not subject myself to any specious and unproductive stereotypes. I have write (ASHPILE CONSULT facebook page) and talked about engaging professionals at every stage of the construction process. Professional is someone who has been trained specially to observe standard in a particular endevour. These days in Nigeria, Professionals are lacking in almost all disciplines. That is why we have nothing to display in the showroom of technological world (Burj Khalifa). A research conducted by undergraduate students of Unilag on construction firm in Lagos shows that seventy percent of the construction firm have 1-2% professionals in their team as staff and some have nothing at all.
Professionals with sound ethics and morals are what I mean because professionals without integrity and character will not observe and follow the standard specification (codes). Construction is not Law; it is something that is real as we are living in real world. Unless, you add something into it one plus one in the world over will always be equal to two.
Society are led and rule by knowledge, let those who know be at the vanguard. Leadership must be given to philosopher king apologies to Aristotle. One of the path to get it right in this constituency is to put square peg in a square hole. Nothing can be used to replace the sanctity of human lives.
Prosecutions; Till now nothing concrete has been done to the erring developers/contractors on the Synagogue Church Building collapse on September 12, 2014 and Lekki Garden five storey building collapse on March 8, 2016. Hundred and fifteen lives (115) and sixty five lives (65) were lost in this incident for the Synagogue and Lekki Garden building collapse respectively. These stakeholders must be prosecuted and convicted if found guilty. This will serve as a deterrent to others. Enough of attendance loss of lives and properties due to building collapse. Government and their agencies (building regulatory control, standard organization of Nigeria) at all levels must wake up to their responsibilities.
ASHPILE CONSULT; a consortium of registered Engineers, Architect and Quantity Surveyor is into business of providing professional services for all civil works (Designs, Construction, Supervision, Structural Repairs and Long term maintenance).
CONTACT- a.oyegoke@yahoo.com. 08036106968.