FCTA, Experts Brainstorm On Building Collapse Prevention

Worried by the increasing incidents of building collapse, the FCT Department of Development Control has met with experts in the building sector to brainstorm on possible ways to address cases of building collapse and abandoned structures in the territory.

Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting with members of the professional bodies, the Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima said the meeting became necessary in view of the series of building collapse that had occurred.

Galadima said working with professionals outside the Department would help strengthen supervision and curb execution of substandard projects.

His words : “We are exchanging views on how to stop the menace of building collapse in the Federal Capital Territory”.

“As a responsible organisation we have to be proactive in addressing the cases of building collapse, we have to work with professional bodies that are regulating agencies.

The Director Development Control also hinted that a committee to be constituted in no distance time, will also examine issues surrounding abandoned structures and undeveloped plots.

“The meeting will help us to constitute a committee that will be making suggestions on tackling the issues, even in the past but this time around we are going to expand it.

“We are going to make it a continuous engagement, discussion and supervision. It will help us share responsibility as well as functionality”.

Mr Cyril Nwafor, who represented the President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), urged the National Assembly to implement the recommendations sent to the house since 2010.

Part of the recommendations raised to tackle building collapse include : ” that only registered professionals should handle projects and those behind failed projects to be disciplined.

Other professional bodies at the meeting are Architects, Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) and many others.