Building and structural collapses with attendant casualty figures and economic losses have almost assumed the status of recurring menace in Nigeria, to the extent that efforts of various regulatory bodies have barely scratched the surface.
Nigerians have always been the worse for it as it has become a common experience, resulting in loss of lives and billions of naira in investments.

Experts have cited substandard building materials, pilfering, faulty execution, non-adherence to designs, dearth of comprehensive subsoil investigation before designs are done, illegal conversion or alterations to existing structures, corruption, omission, and use of unskilled builders, as some of the things accountable for the menace.

Another sore point in the construction industry in Nigeria is the quick dilapidation of public roads. Craters have become almost commonplace, even on newly constructed roads, in some cases within a year of completing the projects. It has come to a point where members of the public are wondering if the players in the construction sector are not liable for the loss of lives and economic losses occasioned by this anomaly.

Data from developed countries show that many of the recorded cases in these climes might be because the current codes of practice do not make provisions for unexpected loads on the buildings and roads. Experts opine that an unexpected failure of a single member may have an all-round impact, including the collapse of the entire structure.

Some experts also finger corruption, said to be almost prevalent in the construction industry, including the failure of the government (Federal and State) to honour the contractual obligations to contractors as when due. Some posit that this could be why some contractors use sub-standard materials to mitigate the adverse impact of the payment circle.

Such is the sordid state of the construction sector that the government is becoming wary of some construction player’s capacity to deliver on projects, which has seen prime projects go to foreign-led construction companies. This also has been adduced as the reason why top multinationals still dominate the sector, even with the prevalence of many indigenous building experts.

While some are against this development, a local construction firm has risen to the task by not only repurposing its approach but has also put up a policy that must be met in contracts before it would undertake any road or building project in the country. This has gradually set it apart from the rest that it is becoming a trusted partner of some of the largest foreign construction companies in the country.

According to Hammakopp Consortium, a Civil Construction, Maintenance, and Fabrication firm, its insistence on standards and quality offering, including properly executed contracts and financial commitments, before undergoing any construction project is part of why it has earned respect in the construction industry.

Hammakopp, a subsidiary of Nestioil Group, incorporated in 1999, is a one-stop-shop for Civil Construction, Maintenance and Fabrication, Environmental and Sewage treatment, heavy structural fabrication, inspection, and maintenance services. It has installed its own Asphalt Plant, located in its Okija Base.

The firm appears to have come into the industry prepared because it undertook a clear study of the sector before opening its doors for business. Part of the steps it took to ensure global standard services include its setup of a well-equipped laboratory where various construction materials are tested before being deployed to sites.

This pre-testing, it says has been the game-changer as most of the causes of poor road and building constructions collapse due to the inability of some construction firms to carry out appropriate soil and material testing before deploying materials for projects has been taken care of.
In the words of the company’s Head of Operations, Ikenna Chukwudum, their capacity to deliver is boosted through their rich human resource potential as the company deploys a unique combination of local and foreign professionals that deliver excellent services to the construction industry.

“Our policy of using the best available resources combined with duteous supervision that ensures a safe working environment without compromising on quality has put us ahead”, he affirmed.
He stated, that asides from some of the various construction projects they have delivered for the federal government and some state governments, their contribution towards the 2nd Niger Bridge construction in partnership with Julius Berger is a game-changer that shows they have come of age.

Chukwudum said, “Hammakopp Consortium, are experts in developing projects from the pre-feasibility phase through conceptual design and FEED studies, detailed design, procurement, construction, and project management and implementation. Though we started small, as ours is an indigenous conglomerate actively engaged in diverse sectors of the Nigerian and International markets, we have grown to be highly regarded in the construction sector, and for us working with Julius Berger to make the 2nd Niger Bridge a reality, shows how the industry players respect our craft.”

He opined that the sector can grow if the challenges facing the construction sector; funding and payment for projects are tackled. “The major issue is funding, repayment for projects done, and that is like 50 percent of the challenges faced by construction companies. If that is settled, the other challenges can be sorted,” he added.

According to Chukwudum, the other solution is for the government agency to regulate and stop the use of non-professionals and quacks in the building and construction industries because they are also the major contributors to building collapses and project failures. He also wants the agencies to ensure compliance by contractors to stop the use of untested products and materials in all construction projects as a way of preventing structural defects.

He projected that the company has put systems in place so that in the coming years, Hammakopp will be classified among the multinational companies thriving in the country. He said their level of investment in their staff and materials has put them on that pedestal, and they are ready to make the local players proud of their innovations in the sector.