Nigerians have been urged not to wait till a building collapses before raising the alarm about poorly constructed houses or derelict structures.
This advice by the former President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Mr Kunle Awobodu, is not unconnected to the latest incident of collapsed building in Minna, Niger State, where multiple individuals were trapped in a failed one -storey structure.
Awobodu, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, said it is high time Nigerians, especially home builders, took precautionary measures during construction of buildings.
These measures, he said encompassed following the due process of building production system, getting the necessary designs and approvals, engagement of the right professional, especially a qualified builder to manage and coordinate the building construction and ensure that what is being constructed tallies with the designs.
He said that home builders or contractors must ensure that building materials supplied meet the required standard of specifications, warning that people should not just embark of change of use of materials in order not to compromise the load the house can carry.
He also called for regular maintenance of building, advising that drainage system should be done to prevent water from soaking the foundation of the building.
It will be recalled that multiple individuals were trapped after a one-story building collapsed in Minna, the capital of Niger State, last weekend.
Emergency officials managed to rescue seven individuals. The victims later received treatment at the Minna General Hospital.
The building, situated in the bustling New Market Area of Minna, crumbled unexpectedly, casting fear and uncertainty over the community.
As the news broke, concerned citizens gathered around the site, watching in anxiety and hoping for miracles. Rescue operations began with the painstaking manual evacuation of debris. Authorities have assured that machinery will be quickly mobilised to expedite the rescue efforts for those still feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Hussaini Ibrahim, Director of Information and Special Duties at the Niger State Emergency Management Agency was at the scene, coordinating the ongoing rescue operation. His presence and leadership provided a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.
Adding to the tragedy, Bako Ismail, General Manager of the Niger State Urban Development Board, disclosed that the building had been illegally converted into a storey building. The board had made repeated attempts to halt this unauthorised conversion, but sadly, those efforts were in vain.
“As the rescue operation continues, the thoughts and prayers of the community are with those trapped and their families. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of building regulations and the devastating consequences when they are ignored.”
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