OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open-access peer-reviewed journal
Assessment of Building Collapses in Jos Town, Plateau State Nigeria (2016-2022)
Ketkukah, T.S. 1, Sule, E. 2, Mije F.G. 1, Badamasi, A.1
1 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Jos, Nigeria.
2 Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Zonal Office, Jos, Nigeria.
Volume 16, Issue 05, pg 11-18, 2023.
Abstract: Nigeria is a poor nation. Building collapse contributes to poverty level of the citizens even in periods of economic growth. Visits to the collapsed scenes revealed the pathetic conditions of building owners and users. Many have died and properties worth millions of naira lost. The aim of the study is to assess the reason for incessant collapse of buildings in Jos town and proffer solutions to mitigate future occurrences. The study is based on physical assessment of the collapsed buildings by the authors through visits to sites of collapse buildings hours after reports of collapse and secondary data obtained from literature and national dailies. Relevant information were also obtained from building owners and general public during site visits. Five (5) cases of collapsed buildings were reported in Jos within a span of seven (7) years from 2016 to 2022. The building collapses were attributed to the use of poor quality of concrete, compromise of sizes of frame elements and steel reinforcement, non-compliance with design specifications, lack of qualified and appropriate professionals to ensure quality construction, inadequate design and fabrication of structural elements and illegal increase to storey building without redesign of the building. Other causes of buiding collapse in Jos include non-involvement of relevant and qualified professionals. Private developers shun professionals in order to cut costs but this has led to waste of many lives and properties worth millions of naira. Such unqualified professionals take advantage of ignorant clients to extend their areas of service.
Until building regulations are adhered to and the right professional designs, gives approval to the designs, builds, supervises and gives final approval upon construction, building collapse in Jos will continue to be an issue of concern. It is recommended that regulatory bodies should regularly conduct sensitization and campaign through electronic (radio and television) and national dailies (newspapers) about taken proper measures to reduce the incident of building collapse. They should enforce compliance with approved building plan, use of adequate materials and presence of Structural Engineers in the construction team to ensure frame elements are provided specified in the design. Furthermore, State Houses and National Assembly should promulgate laws that will enhance effective synergy between the state government and professional regulatory bodies like Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Council of Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), etc. for effective regulation, domestication of National building code (NNBC) and enforcement of quality assurance and regular supervision.
Keywords: Buildings, Collapse, loss of lives, mitigate, professionals
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