In this piece, our man, ABBANOBI -EKU ONYEKACHUKWU takes a look at the efforts of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to meet up with the organisation’s mandate, among which is prevention of building collapses in the country. The agency is expected to prevent this ugly trend by ensuring that standards are met in the building industry, which if done, will reduce the evil menace to the barest minimum. Excerpts.
Among the duties of SON, is to prevent collapsing of buildings in Nigeria and the organization does so by ensuring that standards are met in the building industry. It is noteworthy that irrespective of the efforts of the agency to prevent the ugly happenings, as one of its assignments, Nigerians still experience collapsing of buildings, here and there, including loss of lives and properties that usually follow suit.
To this end, the SON and Building Codes regulation in Nigeria are crucial for ensuring safety, quality, and sustainability in the construction industry and the current leadership of SON under its new Director-General (DG), Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Nonso Okeke has been making efforts to showcase the capacity of the Organisation to Building Codes regulations, to ensure safe and sustainable construction practices in Nigeria.
There are Key Building Codes and Regulations (KBCR) the agency is currently ensuring that a strictly adhered to, like the Nigerian Building Code (NBC), which covers the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings has been in existence since 2018; National Building Regulations Code (NBRC) that regulates building construction, alteration, and demolition has also been in existence since 1992. Nigerian National Standard for Building Materials (NNSBM), was also established to specify requirements for building materials.
Specific to Lagos State is the Lagos State Building Code (LSBC) of 2019, which is designed to regulate building design, construction, and maintenance in the state. However, the above building codes and regulations are not adequately enforced by the establishment created to ensure compliance. There are also Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and SON is the national standards body responsible for developing and promoting national standards, ensuring compliance with international standards and providing certification and testing services for the economic development of the Country.
It is in this reason that SON, under Dr Okeke has been carrying out sensitization programs which kick started from the South-East (SE), touching States like, Anambra, Enugu and Imo, to create awareness on the dangers of the use of substandard building materials and noncompliance to the relevant standards in the country. Chief among these programmes was the recent sensitization campaign undertaken in partnership with the National Association of Block Molders of Nigeria (NABMON).
Commendable partnership will eventually foster a strong alliance on every front possible to improve the sandcrete block standards, thereby preventing building collapses in the country Although corruption and bureaucratic delays have been identified as challenges, ultimately, inadequate funding and limited resources have also been the main issues.
Several Nigerians need to be informed about the numerous government initiatives that are naturally designed to reduce the low quality of building materials available in the markets and subsequently give confidence to investors to invest in the resources.
Through SON’s action plans to prevent building collapses in Nigeria, the agency has notable checks and balances to mitigate the re-occurrence of substandard building materials in Nigeria by applying the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) products standards and codes of practice for practitioners in the sector. Initiatives such as Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) SONCAP and the Product Authentication Mark (PAM) ensure that building materials and other products are met with due processes as required by the standards.
The MANCAP was established to ensure products manufactured locally conform with the relevant standards as prescribed, while the SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) is an offshore conformity process where imported products are tested and conforms to the relevant standards before being imported to the Country. Now PAM provides the Consumer the opportunity to check through QR Code or Short Messages the authenticity of a product before purchase.
This initiative, which is currently running for imported products, will eventually be implemented for locally manufactured products.The Organization also ensures Standards are periodically reviewed to meet International best practices.In conclusion, the menace of building collapse incidents may continue to be reported only when the right things are done will we see the considerable reduction in the menace.
However, it would be recalled that the cases of building collapses in Nigeria are becoming worrisome and alarming, especially during the rainy seasons. The one that happened at the St. Academy School in Jos, plateau state will not be forgotten in a hurry, as a two storey building collapsed on school children, writing exams for the session, leading to deaths and injuries that will last a lifetime.
There have been about 22 reported cases of building collapses in Nigeria, from January to July 2024, with a total of 22 deaths. For instance, the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency has emphasized the need for systematic coordination amongst construction professionals, to curb mediocrity, resulting in building collapses.
To address these issues, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has charged retrofit engineers to prioritize professional development and collaboration to prevent building disasters. The Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB) has also stressed the importance of following due process and adhering to regulations to avoid building collapses. The Minister, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has also expressed concern over the high incidence of building collapses in the country and ordered a probe into the incidents.
Crucial measures capable of mitigating the risks associated with flooding and building collapse in Nigeria have always been observed, among which are: strict enforcement of building regulations and codes; professional development and collaboration amongst construction professionals; conducting regular inspections and maintenance of existing buildings and; investing in flood prevention and management infrastructure.
Besides the above, there have been reported cases of incidents of building collapses this year, right before the rainy season ever began. Building collapses occurred in July 2024 in Lagos, Kubwa, Abuja, resulting to many deaths which is unavoidable. Various factors have been averred to the spate of building collapse incidences in Nigeria and there are risk factors that have been mentioned in recent times, even though it is almost difficult to provide an exact likelihood.
Among the risk assessment based on historical data and expert opinions are: poor construction practices; substandard materials; inadequate design and; shoddy workmanship. Others are lack of enforcement of building regulations and; inadequate monitoring and punishment for non-compliance.
Added are: corruption, bribery and negligence in building approval processes. The rest are: aging infrastructure; deterioration of existing buildings due to lack of maintenance; natural disasters, such flooding, earthquakes, and other natural hazards.
In the area of risks assessments prevention incidences of building collapse in Nigeria, it is good to calculate its probability, as it were which among others are: high-risk areas, like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, one in 50 (2%); medium-risk areas, like major cities, one in 100 (1%); low-risk areas of rural areas, one in 500 (0.2%).
Historically, available data, between 2010 and 2021 alone, Nigeria recorded 199 building collapses (source: Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute), 1,072 deaths (source: National Emergency Management Agency) and 387 injuries (source: National Emergency Management Agency).
Looking at risk assessment by building type – high-rise buildings (>5 floors); high risk (1in 20); medium-rise buildings (2-5 floors); medium risk (1 in 50); low-rise buildings (<2 floors); low risk (1 in 100). Regions with high risk, include Lagos State, which fall into he category due due to rapid urbanization and poor regulation; Abuja, which fall s into medium-high risk due to construction boom and inadequate enforcement. Other states, fall into low risk due to poor regulation, while several suggestions have been given as to factors mitigating against incessant building collapse in Nigeria and here are major amongst many: government initiatives to enforce building regulations; increased public awareness of building safety; improved construction practices and materials and; regular maintenance and inspections. While these estimates are approximate, they highlight the need for urgent attention to address the root causes of building collapses in Nigeria, by strengthening building regulations and enforcement; improving construction practices and materials; conducting regular inspections and maintenance. Also there is a need to enhance public awareness of building safety and; develop emergency response plans. Therefore, SON’s regulations and enforcement is taking the first on the above list, by strengthen building regulations and enforcement.
