Professor Samson Duna, Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), has revealed that the preliminary investigation into the Saint Academy building collapse, in which 22 students died in Jos, Plateau State, last week, revealed that the physical condition of the building appeared distressed, and that the building was constructed with weak materials.
Professor Duna also urged the government and other construction industry professionals to insist on conducting integrity tests on any distressed buildings, particularly those near the collapsed building site.
Addressing journalists in Jos, Plateau State, the Director General stated that the investigative committee on the collapsed building, led by Professor O.F. Job of the Building Department at the University of Jos, found that the quantity of concrete in the two-story building was in doubt due to the lack of a boundary between the concrete and the steel reinforcement, and that the slab reinforcement anchorage provided was inadequate.
He noted that the Institute has intervened in over 60 cases of building collapses in Nigeria, and that with Nigeria witnessing an average of 20 building failures per year, particularly during the rainy season, there is a need to combat the issue of building collapse.
The Director General advocated for an integrated framework to prevent such disasters, stating that all government and professional groups responsible for building development must enforce rigorous adherence to building laws, regulations, and standards.
He added that the country has continued to experience building collapse because there have been no regular inspections and sanctions for noncompliance, and according to accessible data, no one has been prosecuted for negligence or found wanting in relation to building collapse.
The Director General of NBRRI called for collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, experts, and the general public, in order to share information and worldwide best practices.
