Why Buildings Collapse

Sub-standard materials, illegal construction plan and lack of sound concrete blocks have been identified as reasons why buildings collapse frequently in the country.

Speaking with P.M.NEWS in an interview recently, Chief Bode Tobun, an engineer and building contractor said reasons have been advanced about building collapse in Lagos State, but that there are many overlooked or hidden causes.

The causes, he stated, include the Nigerian factor, adding that a situation where people quarrel over the land on which construction is taking place and a party uses remote control (black magic) to ensure the building collapses.

“Cement is sometimes mixed with wood ashes, while some are not to specified quantity and as a result of mixing measurements, it becomes faulty,” he added.

“Lack of sound concrete blocks at various block-making factories constitute a major factor in building collapse. Blocks made by most of the roadside block makers can never pass the stress test. They easily give way at the slightest wetness.

“The layman buys sub-standard building materials such as iron rods, where 11.5mm is bought instead of 12mm and others with less value,” he said.

Tobun noted that after getting the approved building plan and the construction starts, greedy landlords will ask the contractor to put an extra floor, adding that such landlords usually sought and got the favour of supervising government agents.

He called on the government to advise the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to go round the sellers of building materials to ensure standard materials are sold to avoid calamity in the future.

—Ibrahim Bakare