Building collapse: Expert calls for removal of draftsmen in construction

A property consultant , Architect Chris Umoren, has called on property owners to eradicate the activities of draftsmen in order to check the menace of building collapse.

Umoren said that efforts by stakeholders to address the problem of building collapse would continue to be a mirage if property owners did not stop the practice of patronizing draftsmen at the expense of professionals.

Umoren, who is the Managing Director of Stainerz Properties Nigeria Limited in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, argued that the activities of draftsmen had complicated a lot of building projects, resulting in many building collapse in the country.

“The reason we have collapsed building is that when a professional is contacted to draw up a building plan, he is not allowed, in most cases, to execute the project and the job is often given to draftsmen to reduce the cost.

“This brings complication to the project because the draftsmen do not know the technicalities involved and this sometimes results to some of the building collapse we have been experiencing in the state and the country generally,” he said.

With respect to the December 2016 Reigners Bible Church building collapse which killed scores, Umoren blamed the incident on the unhealthy activities of the draftsmen, saying that professionals were not really involved in the church construction process.