The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria has called for sanctions on developers responsible for the recent building collapses in Abuja.
Chairman of the Council, Dr Samson Opaluwah, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone on Wednesday, blamed government negligence in enforcing laws and regulations and demanded thorough investigations and punishment of culprits.
He said, “This collapse, unfortunately, has continued to happen, especially in areas that we can refer to as urban centres. Centres where professionals and professionalism should be extolled to the highest.
“The challenge we have now is government enforcement of its laws. We need to punish those who have been found wanting in the past.
“All the reports that have been published, the investigations that have been carried out by the FCT, we have not seen any advertised punishment to those who have been found causing it.”
He insists that, until measures are put in place to punish offenders, the situation will remain the same.
“Every building that collapses has a reason why it collapsed. And if the reason is due to human error, that human error has to be addressed.
“If it’s out of negligence or poor conduct or misbehaviour, then punishment and sanctions should be done. And that is what we stand for as a council. We stand for punishing culpable individuals.
“And until that is done, the FCT will not see any deterrent to continue what we have, the opportunities we have experienced,” he said.
NewsNow reported on Monday night that many people were trapped when a four-storey building attached to the Westbrook Hotel in the Garki area of the Federal Capital Territory collapsed.
The Westbrook Hotel is said to be owned by a former governor in the South East.
In a similar occurrence, the FCT FEMD last Saturday stated that it rescued two persons from a collapsed building at Close 10, Drive 5, Second Gate at the Prince and Princess Estate in the Gudu District in the FCT.
On the same day, the FEMD stated that a building belonging to Nicholas Ukachukwu Praco Ltd Estate located at Plot 458 Guzape District Abuja was demolished due to a structural defect.
An eyewitness, who informed PUNCH Online of the incident on condition of anonymity, said there could be a “possibility” of casualties as he saw two trapped persons being pulled out from the rubble and taken to the hospital.
“There is a possibility that there could be some people inside the collapsed building who may have died. I saw two people being pulled out from the rubble now and taken to the hospital while rescue operations were ongoing. The emergency responders are not coordinated yet for efficient operations,” he said.
The Ag. Director General of FEMD, Mrs Florence Dawon Wenegieme, appealed to developers and individuals to observe building codes, conduct integrity tests on existing buildings before renovations, and use standard building materials.
Highlighting the role of the Council, Opaluwah stated that “The Builders’ Registration Act CAP B (13) laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004) established our Council and empowers us to register qualified builders who have undergone adequate training.
“We evaluate their expertise and competence by the law, recognising them as professional builders. Furthermore, the Act mandates us to regulate the practice of building technology in all its aspects across the country.”
“If we find any member of the organisation culpable, we call him/her before the tribunal for trial. If found guilty, sanctions are meted out. The tribunal has the power of a high court,” he stated.