Building code and the National Assembly (III)

When the aforementioned causes of building collapse in Nigeria are closely examined, it will be observed that non enforcement of standard is the single most important factor that is responsible for most, if not all of these problems in the built environment in Nigeria. Unless and until the National Assembly pass The National Building Code into law, Nigerian construction industry will continue to face series of problems. It is on this note that I want to make a passionate appeal to the honourable law makers - to act. It is interesting to note that the Nigerian National Assembly can be compared to any Legislature in the world, in terms of the quality or competence of the honourable members of the two houses, as such, they are fully aware of the fact that closely associated with government responsibility of protecting lives and properties,, another important obligation of government is to put in place all necessary measures that will prevent threat to the welfare and well - being of its citizens and to protect the individual’s and national economy from danger of collapse. There is no doubt that incessant building collapse can lead to heart attack, financial losses and even business failure of individuals, families and corporate bodies. The cumulative losses or business failure of individuals and corporate bodies can affect Nigerian economy.

Any unbiased observer will attest to the fact that this administration - and indeed the honourable members of National assembly, have made sincere and bold attempt to improve the lives of Nigerians and sanitize the political system. However, “changing”, “fixing’ or “re-structuring” Nigeria can only succeed if a courageous and holistic attempt is made to put in place far reaching measures that cut across the entire life of Nigerians, foremost among them is laws that regulates and control construction works in Nigeria, in view of the fact that construction industry is a major regulator of the economy of any country.

In this regard, it is instructive to state the statement made by the chairman of anticorruption committee in a public lecture that one of the advice that the international community gave, is that Nigerians should be made to, first and foremost follow, strictly, simple traffic rules. This will make Nigerians to be law abiding in all their activities. The point to note here is that positive change requires, courageous, sincere and honest attempt to touch the entire life of Nigerians. Government should seriously re-examine the way and manner major public projects are awarded with little regard to the development of indigenous construction firms and above all, security. Before building materials can be used in any building, they are expected to meet important technical standards such as strength and stability, dimensional stability, durability, thermal resistance, etc. In addition, there are the social standards and expectations that it must meet as such; they are first run through a highly complex and extensive engineering, testing, and review process.

This review process is usually conducted by a vast number of independent testing laboratories and the results are reviewed by many professional committees. Therefore, the public sector of any country is required to play a vital role in ensuring quality standard of building materials. Another important reason that calls for strict regulation and enforcement of standards, in the use of building materials, is the fact that substantial part of the materials used are imported, there is the high need to ensure that such materials satisfy the minimum standard and are compatible with our environment. Furthermore, result of an investigation by the Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB) on the problem of building collapse, revealed that 20% of the structural failures could be attributed to the use of defective building materials. Also outcome of a recent study also affirmed that poor applications and use of inferior materials as a principal contributory factor for the collapse of buildings in Nigeria.

Nigerians need to be more serious. Ideally even a completed building is supposed to be scrupulously examined, from time to time, by a Building Surveyor just like the way Vehicle inspection Officer, VIO, inspects and determine the road worthiness of vehicles.

Furthermore, It is a known fact that building is one of the basic social conditions that determine the quality of life and the way they are located, designed, constructed and managed influence the lives, health, security and wellbeing of the people. Buildings are regarded as a physical asset of an integral part of nation‘s wealth embodied as fixed asset. That is why the built environment provides the clearest evidence for any nation’s developmental standing. They are designed and constructed not just to provide shelter but to be an environment where people can live, work and achieve. It is required to fulfill certain important functional requirements such as provision of decent shelter, refuge, comfort, security, and dignity. In order to achieve the desired objective, there must be articulated system that defines procedures and standard for all phases of building production process, spell out the responsibilities and interaction among the construction industry’s professionals. In other words, buildings must be carried out under the watchful guidance of the law.

An interesting feature about democracy is that it places a lot of power with legislatures, who are close to the common man. As such the survival, success and sustenance of the system, to a large extent, depends on our honourable law makers and history will definitely judge them accordingly. Most of the honourable members are people that have held various important positions in Nigeria. Many of them were Ministers, Governors, Permanent secretaries, etc. and above all, most of them especially in the Senate they are well above fifty years. It is my candid view that if they take the bull by the horn and take far reaching decisions that positively impact on the lives of Nigerians irrespective of their tribes, religion, state of origin, etc. I am confident that most of the problems that we are facing in this country will be a history. Even the present political, social and economic problems, I dare say, is due to, largely, the inability of our politicians to rise above the pullings of tribal, religious, ideological differences, geo-political dichotomy etc and take important and impartial decisions. As a matter of fact there will never be meaningful development if our honourable law makers are not up and doing. To really appreciate the point I am trying to make, consider the fact that during the colonial era the three regions had Building By-Laws, although after independence, they were repealed but during the same period the Lagos City Council Building Bye-Laws and Regulations alone, was reviewed twelfth (12) times - as follows: 1938, 1940, 1941 (2 times), 1942, 1944 (2times), 1946, 1947, 1950, 1953 and 1957. All these reviews took place within a period of twenty years. Nigeria should not nurse the ambition of becoming in the league of developed nations if we continue to exhibit lukewarm or unpatriotic attitude. Nigeria must not be left out.

Danwata is an Associate Professor at Department of Building, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria. He can be reached at drdaudadahiru@ yahoo.com, 08022601115