BUILDERS CHAIRMAN DISCLOSES CAUSE OF COLLAPSE OF 7 STOREY BUILDING AT GRA, PORT HARCOURT

….warns Against engaging quacks in building construction

….to collaborate with RSG officials, RSHA to domesticate National Building Code

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) says the cause of the callapsed 7 storey Building at Woji Road, GRA Port Harcourt in 2018 and other collapsed building were because no professional builder was engaged in the construction of the projects.

The Chairman of NIOB in Rivers State, Builder UGO OHUABUNWA revealed this while addressing members of NIOB and the public at the site of the collapsed 7 storey Building at GRA in Port Harcourt.

He disclosed that the Institute would meet with some top Government officials of the State Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning and the leadership of the State House of Assembly to domesticate the National Building Code in the State.

Builder OHUABUNWA also revealed that the Institute has volunteered to monitor project constructions in the state as part of its measure to stop Building Collapse in the state, even as it continues to carry out its awareness and advocacy programmes in the area of property development.

The NIOB chairman boasted that no Building under the supervision of a professional Builder had ever collapsed. He stated that the Collapsing of Buildings is avoidable, when a professional is duly engaged during project construction.

He however noted that the Institute is not an enforcement association.

“NIOB is not an enforcement organ, what we can do is to create awareness and advocacy and sensitise the Public to always engage a Builder in project construction as well as draw the attention of the Government to drive the Building Code, which is the guiding law for building construction.

“This will make it compulsory for Professionals to handle their specific roles in building construction. We are fighting it from National and Local levels to ensure that the Building Codes are enforced during Building Construction”.

Furthermore, Builder OHUABUNWA said the responsibility of checking adherence to Standard Building Guidelines in order to check Emergency Situations is not only that of the government but also rests with the owners, who should ensure that quacks are not engaged in developing their property.

He stressed that the Institute is working hard to see that there should be a penalty for offenders who do not abide by the National Building Code.

OHUABUNWA, however commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones during the unfortunate incident in 2018 and assured that the Institute would intensify her advocacy programmes to create awareness against using quacks in property development in Rivers State.