Rain as Test for Building Stability

Lagos recorded its first building collapse in year 2024 as members of Building Collapse Prevention Guild ( BCPG) were embarking on a Walk Against Building Collapse in Lagos. Worrisome coincidence!

The four-storey building ( having a ground floor and three suspended floors) under renovation located at No 1, Isale Gangan Street, Lagos Island fortuitously collapsed while members of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria were holding REDAN 2024 Annual General Meeting at Ikeja in Lagos.

It could be very disturbing when a well-planned sensitisation walk scheduled for 8 am on Thursday, February 22, 2024 was welcome by torrential rain in the dry season. Act of God!

“Can this walk hold again with this rain?” A message (SMS) was received from the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Abiodun Olumide who was to join the BCPG members for the Walk Against Building Collapse.

Surprisingly, the undaunted, resolute BCPG members from different BCPG Cells in Lagos State defied the rain and assembled at the take off point, Ikeja Local Government Headquarters.

As the intensity of the rain reduced considerably, the BCPG gathering, mostly constituted by professionals in the built environment and building artisans embarked on the long walk that would terminate at the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. The messages on the banners were to sensitise the public on the need to adhere to standard building construction in order to prevent building collapse.

The Walk was also aimed at drawing the attention of the government to the astronomical rise in the prices of building materials that could tempt developers to compromise standard.

-Bldr. Kunle Awobodu is Advocate of Standard Building Construction; Past National President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB); and Pioneer National President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).