Posted by the Imo State Government, through its organization, the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), has cited the use of non-professional labor as one of the primary factors contributing to the country’s ongoing building collapses.
The 4th Builders Workshop/Induction ceremony for the Nigeria Institute of Building, Imo State Chapter was held at the institute’s Secretariat in the new Owerri, Imo State capital. This was announced by the General Manager of OCDA, Engr. Francis Chukwu, during his address.
The head of OCDA also revealed that a committee was formed by the organization and the Nigeria Institute of Building to investigate cases of building collapse in Imo State.
He said that the committee’s findings showed that quacks handled the majority of collapsed structures.
To avoid any unfavorable effects resulting from a building collapse, the general manager recommended developers to always use the services of certified builders.
He expressed his gratitude to the Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) for hosting the session and gave them the assurance that his authorities would always work in concert with NIOB.
In his speech, Dr. Andrew Osuagwu, chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Building’s Imo State Chapter, listed the activities of the chapter, including working with the OCDA to control development and raising awareness among Imo citizens, corporate entities, and government agencies to encourage the use of registered builders who are legally permitted to construct buildings.
The Imo State House of Assembly was urged by Osuagwu to domesticate the National Building Codes in Imo State.
Additionally, he requested that His Excellency Hope Uzodimma, the State Governor, approve the establishment of the Building Control Department in the OCDA, to be led by a licensed builder.
Prof. Okoli Godwin Obumneme, a professor of construction technology and building materials at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, also gave a speech. He said that alternative construction methods involve a variety of techniques and materials and can be thought of as a departure from conventional cavity wall construction using bricks and concrete blocks.
Obumneme regretted that there was no comprehensive legislation for the construction industry on the development of local content and that this was a serious drawback for the adoption of alternative construction as a solution for sustained building production.
He suggested that the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), a government organization tasked with conducting research on construction and building materials, should do more to inform and advertise to the public by constructing prototypes of their products in local government areas. He also suggested that researchers be given the authority to occasionally hold exhibitions of their research findings.