THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES IN MINIMIZING BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA
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ABSTRACT
The incidences of buildings collapse has become very frequent in recent times, particularly within the country. These incidences of collapse buildings have continued “embraces’ professionals and stakeholders alike in the construction industry, even as all efforts are being made to stem the side of occurrences and mishap.
We read on the pages of newspapers or hear from our radios or television sets, news of buildings collapsing and killing or maiming of occupants or workmen on what may now be regarded as a recurrent feature of our national life. It is in dead a very sad aspect of our socio-economic life that we should allow those who do not possess the skills at appropriate levels to design and supervise the erection of buildings and other structures. In view of the every rising prices of goods and services in the country, I think it is about time that those whose duties, it is to act, come out with suitable building codes and bylaws that will guarantee the lives and properties of innocent citizens, who may still perish due to such avoidable mistakes, that have been responsible for the untimely death of occupants of building structures in the recent past. This study is also addressing the need for the local government-authorities to play their roles in the construction industry to stem the spate of building collapse in Nigeria.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 5
1.3 Objective of the Study 5
1.4 Relevant Research Question 6
1.5 Scope and Delimitation of the Study 6
1.6 Significance of the Study 7
1.7 Definition of Terms 8
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 9
2.1 Historical Background 9
2.2 Roles of the Local Government Council Areas 11
2.3 National Building Code 15
2.4 Supervisor Control Measure 17
2.5 Design and Construction Deficiencies 18
2.6 Negligence, Ignorance and Poor Supervision 19
2.7 Maintenance of Buildings 19
2.8 Mis-use of Building 20
2.9 Soil Conditions 21
2.10 Construction Malpractices 21
2.11 Post Construction Activities 23
2.12 Materials Quality 24
2.13 Fire Hazards 25
2.14 Structural Failure 24
2.15 Inexperience of the Builders 28
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 Research Methodology 30
3.2 Sources of Data 30
3.2.1 Primary Data 30
3.2.2 Secondary Data 31
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Presentation of Data Analysis 32
4.2 Responses Collected from Individuals
in the Questionnaire 34
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS 50
5.1 Summary 50
5.2 Conclusion 52
5.3 Recommendations 55
References 66
Appendix 68
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The Nigerian experience have shown that buildings collapse have taken a lot of lives and properties hence, the need to stop the large increase in the number of buildings collapsing in the country. In the last quarter of 2011, there was a catastrophic collapse of a 5-story hospital building under construction in pape Abuja that led to loss of lives and injuries. There has been series of buildings collapse in Nigeria from North to South, West to East, the story is the same. These ugly incidences that have now become some reoccurring decimal all over Nigeria have sent a lot of Nigerians to their early raves and have equally turned hundreds to disables and also make them homeless.
Whenever this ugly monster shows its face stakeholders always look for whom to blame, because this incidences of collapse buildings has continued to “embarrass” professionals and stakeholder alike in the construction industry. Most at times, the largest proportion of the blame goes to the institutions that are responsible fro the training of professionals in the building industry are ready to accept the blame, infact, they prefer shifting the blames on each other. Even as all efforts are being made to stem the tide. There I should be urgent need to set in motion a mechanism that would ensure that the incidences of collapsed buildings was eradicated or reduced to the barest minimum.
However, it is the work of the architect and the structural engineer to ensure that the structures will not be liable to collapse in Nigeria, were considered as design errors.
Failure in design is often attributed to coincidence of factors rather than just a single cause a greater attention is being placed on design errors or inadequacies, where a major factor is the chain of events leading to collapse. The cause of the above is obviously structural and is common in Nigeria, as a result of quacks who practice as structural engineers and architects. These quacks often make errors in their assumptions regarding loading and flexural conditions, coupled with poor detailing and drafting, carelessness in treatment of constructions, improper location, inadequate attention to thermal and shrinkage effects; others are inadequate site investigation, improper planning and absence of professionals to give the technical input, improper selection of materials and lack of maintenance.
A look at most collapsed buildings, shown that often, it is the absence of building code and regulation leads to collapse, mostly due to structural issues.
According to Parker Gay, Mac Guire (1958), the negligence and ignorance constitute building collapse in Nigeria. Majority of owners of collapse buildings are illiterates who are ignorant of the existence of professionals in the building industry. Failure in building also occurs as a result of misuse of buildings. Buildings of different structural designs serve different purpose, structural design for residential building is different from industrial building.
Despite the various efforts, the rate of building collapse to date has continued unabated with two building collapsing in Lagos within a week. Government at all levels have not shown or displayed concern for the ugly occurrences. Most of design and plans are good but no monitoring and supervision. Most time, owners of buildings and other professionals want to cut corners. Howe can good quality work be guaranteed when there is no sincerity on the part of those involved and professional are not allowed to the job.
Thus in Nigeria today, all building specifications are to maintain the British Standard (BS). This gave to the Enugu Urban District Council Building Bye Law. This has undergone a lot of modification since 1954 and the most recent which was standard for the whole state.
Regrettably, the operatives noted, the increasing rate of buildings collapse witnessed in Nigeria in recent years has reach such a disturbing state that governments and federal and sate levels had to step up attention at adopting intervention measures to minimize the ugly situation in the building industry.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The building collapse syndrome has taken a lot of lives and properties in Nigeria due to
– Non-professionals and quacks involved in the construction process, in the Nigerian experience;
– The use of sub-standard materials, components and products;
– Improper planning;
– Absence of building code/regulations in the industry;
– Lack of maintenance culture;
– Inadequate soil investigation;
– Poor detailing and drafting, etc.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
(i) The aim of this project is to stop the increasing number of the building collapse in the country, so as to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the building users.
(ii) To eliminate the incessant collapse of buildings in the country, so as to protect image of the country within the comity of nations.
1.4 RELEVANT RESEARCH QUESTIONS
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