The Akure Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) led by its Chairman, Engr Ezekiel Oloruntola has visited the site of collapsed building in Akure, Ondo State capital.
At least one person was confirmed dead after a storey building collapsed at Fanibi Junction, Akure. The incident occurred around 3:00am while the occupants of the building were still sleeping.
One woman died as others who were trapped including children were rescued by sympathizers who joined hands with the Rescue Operator.
Speaking with newsmen, the branch chairman of NSE said it is part of the Society oversight functions as a professional body to visit the site of the collapsed building, saying it falls within their responsibility to ensure safety of the people through erected structures.
” Before now, it is more of collapse of new structures and not old ones in Akure but from our assessment, the collapsed building that claimed life was as a result of greed on the part of the landlord whose interest is making money than the safety of occupiers of the building”.
Engr Oloruntola said the assessment tour became necessary when the news of the collapsed building was brought to their notice, adding that, the on the spot assessment will enable them to know the cause of the incident, how to prevent future occurrence, number of casualties among others related issues.
In his words, the building in question is not a new one but inherited structure by the children who out of greed erected attachment to the main building without consulting professionals who are well trained but rather secured the service of quack, thereby endanger the life of occupants”.
” From our assessment, we discovered that the erected attachment has no column nor beams holding it to the main building which eventually led to the collapse”.
For further enquiries, the team went to police station where the landlord, Mr Segun Ogunyakin was detained by the police; in the course of discussion, the landlord denied of any restructuring to the main building but the chairman said the statement was far from the truth.
The Chairman charged the government through its agency to demolish the marked building to prevent further loss of lives of neighbors residing beside the building.
He promised that, NSE will hence forth take it upon itself to move round the city to assess every building construction and ensure it meets the standard required by law. ” We are going to join hands with the Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning and law enforcement agencies to ensure strict compliance and any building that fail the set standard will be demolished”.
Engr Oloruntola frowned at the manner approvals were said to be allegedly given, saying NSE is going to synergise with the Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning and Works to put a stop to unholy approvals that will endanger the life of the people of the state.
‘ In Akure, we have some on-going road dualisation projects at Hospital Road, Ijoka Road which government has paid compensation to the owners of demolished building but it surprising that the compensated landlords are reconstructing the remaining part of the building without employing the service of professionals at the detriment of future occupants”.
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He disclosed further that, Akure Branch of NSE will soon organise a workshop where all professionals in building construction will be sensitise on what to do and not while rendering their services to their clients, noting that Artisans workshop will also be organized.
In the same vein, the General Secretary, Engr Adeyonu Adedokun said failure of the landlord to employed the service of experts led to the collapsed as integrity test wasn’t conducted on the building before erecting attachment.
Engr Adeyonu disclosed further that, issue of quackery has been a major challenge as many people could not differenciate between professionals and quacks masquerading as engineers.
He lamented the use of substandard building materials and failure of relevant government agencies to do the needful, saying all these factors resulted into incessant collapse of building.
“As a professional body, we don’t have power to enforce but can only advise and sensitise the general public on the danger of employing the services of quacks”.
The General Secretary added that, NSE won’t rest on its’ oar in ensuring regular sensitisation of the public, noting that position paper would be put forward to relevant agencies to forestall future occurrence.
(PATH)