Architects lament buildings’ collapse

From Itodo Daniel Sule, Lokoja

The Kogi State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) has expressed concern over rising cases of buildings’ collapse across the country.

The state chairman of the association, Arc. Kayode Abayomi Oloninisi, spoke yesterday in Lokoja against the backdrop of its conference to mark the 2016 World Architecture Day.

He said the conference which comes up on October 3, would focus on the theme: “Design a Better World: Architectural Solutions to Enhance Quality living”.

Oloninisi, who attributed buildings’ collapse in the country to activities of quacks in the profession, use of substandard materials and bad workmanship, noted that the forthcoming conference would serve as avenue to address the issues.

“We have so many people today who present themselves as architects and engineers who have no business being in the building industry. One of the problems we have in Nigeria is that people claim careers by association.

“If you have worked on the site for 20 to 30 years as a mason, you begin to see yourself as an engineer and there is a big difference between the training of a mason and that of an engineer. So, no matter the number of years you spend as a mason or as carpenter, that can never transform you into an engineer”, he said.

He said cases of building collapse would reduce to the barest minimum if all building projects are ‘strictly’ handled by trained and certified architects and engineers.

On the recent earth tremor in some parts of Kaduna State, Oloninisi said it was a wakeup call for those in the building industry to adopt structural foundations and designs that would be able to withstand such occurrences.