THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES IN MINIMIZING BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA

THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES IN MINIMIZING BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA

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.

THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES IN MINIMIZING BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA