‘Quacks responsible for 80% of building collapses’

A member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Engineer Isa Emoabino has said quacks are responsible for 80percent of the building collapse experienced in the country.

Speaking in an interview at the branch meeting of the association at the weekend, Emoabino cited the recent building collapse in Port Harcourt; saying the building was found out to have been constructed by a pharmacist. “Nobody takes engineers serious, they say engineers are expensive,” he said.

Alade lamented that quacks have taken over engineers’ jobs which he said is responsible for collapse of buildings in the country.

Engineer Alade who is also a consultant, Net Construct Nigeria Limited in Abuja condemned the activities of quacks who pose as contractors and cut corners to get engineering jobs. According to him, other factors responsible for building collapse include poor workmanship, use of substandard building materials, illegal alterations of design and faulty construction methodology among others.

He described quacks and non professionals as evil collaborators, he suggested that clients or project owners confirmed to have defaulted by engaging non professionals or found to have refused to adhere to approved design specifications should be charged for non compliance or stiff penalty meted on them so as to serve as deterrent to others. He also noted that the regulatory bodies can only succeed through supervising and monitoring of building construction in accordance with the laid down laws and procedures.