Built-environment professionals who inspected the site of a collapsed four-storey building in Enugu have attributed the incident to alleged negligence, poor construction practices and weaknesses in regulatory oversight.
The building collapsed on Sunday, killing one person and critically injuring another, while several others were taken to hospital for treatment.
On Monday, officials from the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and the Nigerian Institute of Building visited the scene to assess the possible causes of the collapse.
Chairman of the NITP, Enugu State chapter, Dr Christopher Anierobi, described the incident as a case of gross negligence, pointing to what he said was inadequate material mixture and poor professional supervision at the site.
He said the failure of site engineers to properly supervise the construction contributed to the collapse.
The Second National Vice President of the NIOB, Dr Eucharia Enebe, also said construction safety and structural integrity depend on proper planning and quality control before concrete is poured.
She identified weaknesses in construction management, health and safety planning and quality assurance as concerns that needed to be addressed.
The experts also raised concerns about Enugu State’s planning and regulatory framework, particularly the continued reliance on an outdated 1979 planning document.
Anierobi and the NIOB Vice Chairman in Enugu State, Ani Chukwunoso, called on Governor Peter Mbah to domesticate the 1992 Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law and the 2006 National Building Code.
They said stronger implementation of the laws would help ensure that site supervision is handled by qualified professionals, including architects, structural engineers and registered builders.
Attention was also drawn to another detached structure located beside the collapsed building.
Enebe warned that the impact of the collapse could have affected the structural stability of the neighbouring building. She called for comprehensive non-destructive integrity tests before the structure is considered safe for occupation.
The inspection came a day after the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority said it had identified irregularities at the site.
According to the ECTDA, the developer had obtained structural approval, but preliminary investigations indicated significant deviations from the approved engineering drawings, violations relating to building density and structural modifications that were not properly monitored.
The agency said it had sealed the affected area and commenced an administrative investigation. It also stated that any developer or supervising official found to have violated regulations would face prosecution under applicable state laws.
The building collapse has renewed calls from built-environment professionals for stronger enforcement of planning regulations, professional supervision and construction standards to prevent similar incidents.
Source: PUNCH
