NSE Inspects Project Site in Akure, Demands Strict Adherence to Building Specifications

By Collins Dupson, 8th December, 2021

As part of its oversight functions as a professional body in Ondo State, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Akure Branch has visited the on going building site in Ijapo Estate, Akure to ascertain the level of compliance of the Contractor with the building specifications.

Engr Ezekiel Oloruntola, Chairman of Akure Branch of NSE led Senior Fellows of the body to the building site.

It could be recalled that building collapses have become rampant in Nigeria and to prevent such bad occurrence in Ondo State, the Akure Branch of NSE has begun site inspection to ensure Contractors and Engineers adhere strictly to building specifications.

Speaking at the building site in Ijapo, Engr Oloruntola said it is part of their responsibility as a professional body to inspect building sites, adding that it shouldn’t be time of calamity alone that the body will visit project sites.

According to him, ” our visit to the site is to access what is on ground; are the Contractor and Enginers following specification to prevent future calamity? Our concern is safety of lives because we can’t afford to experience Ikoyi building collapsed where several lives were loss due to negligence of some people”.
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” The Contractors and Engineers handling the project were not around to brief us properly but we will definitely go back at an agreed date when all the major operators are around. We want to know if the building specifications agree with the drawing, look at the concrete test result, soil test result and get full details of the building foundation”.

Engr Oloruntola stressed further that, to prevent cases of collapse structure, the drawing and design must comply with the building specifications, noting that anything contrary might cause future distater.

” The building inspected is going to seven floors and the land is a swampy area; we believe the Engineers must have done the soil test and carry out necessary tests that will have capacity to carry seven storeys building”.

The Chairman commended relevant building agencies and stakeholders in the state for doing the needful, adding that the effort of everyone is responsible for no case of collapse building in the state.

He said with high rise buildings in Akure, all stakeholders should be at alert and be on the look out to avoid cases of collapse structures.

Engr Oloruntola asked Contractors and Engineers handling project in the state to obtain appropriate approval from the Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning, and Ministry of Environment before embarking on any project.

He stated that professional bodies in the state will not rest on their oars in showing concern whenever they discover high rise building in Ondo State to avoid calamity.

While tasking government to encourage professional bodies by empowering them whenever they are on oversight functions, he noted that government relevant agencies should be alive to their responsibilities.

In the same vein, a Fellow of NSE, Engr John Enaburekhan said the visit of the professional body became necessary to prevent loss of lives as a result of shoddy job by contractors. ” We need to ensure every specification meet all the requirements deserving of a seven storeys building”.

He appealed to every stakeholder to adhere strictly to specifications, saying safety of lives and users to the facility should be paramount to companies handling projects in Ondo State.

Engr Ejibunu Aliyu Rasaq commended the present leadership of NSE for taking active steps in ensuring no record of building collapse is recorded in the state.

He noted that the inspection was commendable as it affords NSE ample opportunity to ascertain concrete test, soil test and building specifications of the project. “We need to look at the design whether they are following strictly in accordance with the drawing for the building.

He attributed the rampant building collapses in the country to lack of due diligence as many personnel working on site have little or no knowledge of their job specification, use of sub-standard materials, cutting corners by the owners in order to maximize profit among others are reason while Nigeria of late is experiencing incessant collapse building.

He charged stakeholders to fear God in all their dealings and advised developers to stop using quacks as Engineers but rather employ the service of certified engineers.

Meanwhile, Mr Timothy Ali, the Site Engineer while taking the inspection team round the project said the contractor, ARCHIFIRM met all the basic requirements for the job and work with the project specification.