By Onyebuchi Sampson
To check recurring collapse, Lagos State Branch of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has called for the enactment of a law that requires periodic monitoring and deformation study of all buildings that are above two floors and specifically high rise structures in the state.
Chairman of the Branch, Olukolade Kasim, who made the call on behalf of the institution, said the law would ensure not only the safety of lives and property, but also restore investors confidence in the real estate sector as it contributes significantly to the state’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). His reaction followed the collapse of a three-storey at Yaba, Lagos State on Saturday, February 12, 2022.
Five bodies were recovered from the rubbles of the collapsed building, while two persons were rescued.
The incident came a few months after a 21-storey building collapsed and killed 45 people at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, area of the state. it was learnt that a section of the building, which is still under construction collapsed on a building beside it.
But the Lagos State Branch of NIS said it is greatly saddened by the unfortunate death of scores of people at the construction sites and condone with the Government and the people of Lagos State the irreplaceable loss of souls.
He noted that this has become rather prevalent going by the spate of building collapses in Lagos State in recent times.
According to the chairman of the branch, it is an embarrassment that despite the availability of an expansive crop of professionals in the built environment and a well thought out National Building Code, we continue to be confronted by incessant building collapses. He said: “The crux of the matter is that the inputs and advice of Professionals are always jettisoned on the altar of ignorance, cost management, and time-saving. Whereas in actual fact, no other consideration should supersede the sanctity of human life.
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“The NIS Lagos state is hereby calling on the Lagos State Government to swiftly enact a law that requires Periodic Subsidence Monitoring and Deformation Study of all buildings that are above two floors and specifically high rise structures in Lagos.
“This will ensure not only the safety of life and property but also restore investors’ confidence in the real estate sector. The real estate sector contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state.
“The timely identification of deformation associated with geologic hazards or ground settlement can save lives, avert large financial liabilities, and avoid severe environmental damage. “Nowadays, smart cities must consider the importance of the GPS technology as an important player for monitoring tall buildings still under normal behaviour.
“The advantage of using GPS technology is that it can detect if the structure has drifted even for a few centimeters. Besides that, GPS provides cost-effective and 3D information that will be useful for structural engineers. High-precision 3D Laser scanning imagery systems can also be used to monitor high rise structures for any kind of deformation.
“This system is currently deployed in advanced climes to monitor the future behaviour of high rise structures to changes in the geological characteristics of soil and its bearing capacity that may even arise from earthquakes, tremors and other tectonic processes that are of natural causes.
“Professionals at all stages in the construction industry must also work hand in hand, alongside regulatory bodies and take a holistic approach to the issue of building collapse.” Meanwhile, Lagos State Government has directed the prosecution of the developer of the three-story building that collapsed in Onike, Yaba.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who disclosed this stated that the State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) had been mandated to liaise with the police so as to proceed to court and press charges against the developer, held for violating the State’s physical planning laws.
He said: ” The Government regrets the needless loss of lives and property due to his unlawful conduct and antics of defying stop-work orders as well as evading supervision.
“It is hoped that his prosecution will send a strong warning to all recalcitrant developers that it is mandatory to build right and engage professionals in constructing buildings in Lagos State as we will not hesitate to bring to book whoever errs against the law.”
