The President of the
Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Kashim Ali, has advised developers to always engage the services of professional engineers in building construction.
Ali gave the advice last Thursday in Abuja at a send-off party for three retired members of the council.
He urged the retired members to continue to support the activities and programmes of the council.
He said that a lot of researches were required to produce mix design information that would guide the construction industry.
The correct mixture of cement would help to achieve strength of sand and concrete used in different grades of cement available.
Ali said it had become necessary for COREN, as stakeholders, to caution individuals and organisation on the “misguided utterances” on the quality of cement in circulation in the country.
Ali said that the quality of cement in the country was not responsible for building collapse.
He said that the engagement of quacks in constructions in the country had led to building collapse and stressed the need for professionalism.
The COREN president said that qualified engineers were qualified to advise the consumers on the correct mix proportion to be used in producing materials like sand, blocks and concrete for various applications.
According to Ali, until a few years ago, the only cement that is produced and used in the country is the Ordinary Portland Cement which complied with the British Standard BS 12:1958.
“In line with the current best practice, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has certified and approved the grade 32.5, grade 42.5 and recently the grade 52.5 cement for use in the country,’’ Ali said.
He warned that the quality and strength of the cement product used in construction depended on the quantity mixed in proportion adopted by builders.
He said the SON certification of the quality of cement confirmed that there were no substandard products in circulation in the country.
Ali said an investigation carried out by COREN had further confirmed that there were no empirical evidence that linked collapsed buildings to the grade of cement used in the country.
He urged the parties involved in the condemnation of the quality of cement to exercise restraints, to avoid instilling fear into the public.
The retiring members thanked the council for the ocassion and pledged their support for activities of the council in the future.
The Deputy Governor of Rivers, Mr Tele Ikuru, was among the members who retired from the council.