By Angela Atabo
The Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) has taken the campaign against building collapse to the streets, warning Nigerians against the dangers of engaging unqualified practitioners.
The engineers made the call on Saturday in Abuja, at the institution’s “Walk Against Building and Infrastructure Collapse 2.0”.
The campaign is themed: ‘’Say No to Building Collapse: Build Right and Build Safe, Patronise Professional Civil Engineers’’.
Speaking during the campaign, the Deputy National Chairman of NICE, Prof. Sony Ali, said the initiative was conceived under the National Chairmanship of Tokunbo Ajanaku.
He said the initiative was to renew the institution’s nationwide advocacy against building collapse to insist on engaging only professionals in construction.
According to him, the persistent cases of building collapse across the country are unacceptable in a nation that produces thousands of civil engineers annually.
“We are here to emphatically say no to building collapse. It’s almost, let me say, it’s an abomination.
“A country, where thousands of civil engineers are produced.As you know, civil engineers are professionals in this sector.
“Not just professionals, but we are the people that structure buildings, infrastructure to make sure we give it the bone to make it stand.
“What do I mean? We design the structures scientifically to ensure that when they are built, they are built right.
“When you build right, you are sure that your infrastructure is going to stand there for years.”
He maintained that no building was expected to go down or to fail in less than 50 years, stressing that with good maintenance, it could be much more.
Ali blamed the increasing incidents of collapse on the invasion of the construction sector by non-professionals, stressing that registered civil engineers had never been indicted for building failure.
“When you build right, your infrastructure will stand for years. Patronise professionals and collapses will not happen,” he assured.
Ali added that the campaign, which began last year, involved all stakeholders in the built environment, including architects, builders, quantity surveyors, land surveyors, electrical and mechanical engineers.
He said that the campaign was being replicated across the 36 states of the federation and the third edition would be held next year.
Addressing concerns on how the institution was tackling quackery, Ali said NICE was engaging the media, sensitising government and the public, and pushing for enforcement of existing laws that criminalise engineering quackery.
Also speaking, National Vice Chairman,Onuoha Obeka, said clients who cut corners to avoid professional fees often end up paying more in the long run.
“It is penny-wise and pound-foolish. Professionals bring training, knowledge and experience to deliver the right infrastructure at minimal overall cost,” he said.
Obeka explained that a qualified engineer underwent academic training, years of practice, and be certified by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), which also prescribed penalties for fake engineers.
On his part,the Deputy Chairman of NICE in Bauchi State, Abubakar Amale, identified lack of professionalism, poor design, and inadequate supervision as major causes of building collapse.
“That is why we are mobilising and sensitising the people, so they can know the value of engineers, engineering design and good supervision,” he said.
Also speaking, a former National Vice Chairman of the institution, Olumo Sharafudeen, said the campaign was necessary to stop the loss of lives and resources caused by building and infrastructure collapse.
“We are here to raise our voices against quackery and building collapse. It is taking lives and draining our resources. There is no gain in allowing this to continue,” he said.
He warned quacks to desist from practicing, describing engineering without proper training as a criminal offence.
“What is not your job, what you are not trained to do, you are not supposed to do. The era of quackery is fading off,” the vice chairman declared.
The institution pledged to sustain the annual campaign until quackery was eradicated from the construction sector, urging Nigerians and government agencies to always engage qualified professionals to ensure safe and durable infrastructure.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
