The preliminary investigation into the Saint Academy building collapse, where 22 students died in Jos, Plateau State, last week, has been revealed, the Director General, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Professor Samson Duna, has disclosed.
According to the preliminary investigation, the physical observation of the building looked distressed while weak materials were used for the building.
Professor Duna then advised the government and other professional bodies in the construction industry to insist on carrying out integrity tests on all distressed buildings, especially those around the collapsed building site.
Briefing newsmen in Jos, the Director General explained that the investigative committee on the collapsed building, headed by Professor O.F. Job of the Building Department at the University of Jos, depicted that the quantity of concrete in the two-story building was in doubt, explaining that there was no boundary between the concrete and the steel reinforcement, while the slab reinforcement anchorage provided was inadequate.
He stressed, “The Institute has so far intervened in more than 60 cases of building collapses in Nigeria, Nigeria is experiencing an average of 20 building collapses annually, especially during the rainy season, there is a need to fight the menace of building collapse.”
The Director General advocated for a multifaceted framework to prevent future occurrences, pointing out that all organs of government and professional bodies responsible for building construction must enforce strict compliance with building codes, regulations, and standards.
He lamented that the country has continued to experience building collapse, with no regular inspections and penalties for non-compliance, saying that from the available records, no one has been sanctioned for negligence or found wanting in relation to building collapse.
He stressed that there should be professionalism by ensuring that only qualified professionals like registered architects, engineers, and builders are involved in building projects, saying that in a situation where a contractor borrows a certificate from a professional to execute a job, both the contractor and the owner of the certificate should be sanctioned.
He added that public awareness should be reinforced by educating the public on the importance of building safety and the risk of illegal construction, believing that it is necessary because many are not aware of what they need to do before they embark on building projects.
The Director General of NBRRI also suggested collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, professionals, and the public, for the purpose of sharing knowledge and global best practices and called for refresher training among the professionals.