Expert Wants Proper Scrutiny On Building Contracts

As part of efforts aimed
at checkmating irregularities in the housing sector, a structural engineer in Port Harcourt, Dennis Denie has urged authorities in the housing sector to ensure that contractors are properly screened for any building construction, particularly for the public building.
He has also said that such clients or contractors should be made to sign an undertaken for supervision, and must be a qualified engineer.
Denie, who was a former chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt branch and who was speaking on how many people have posed as engineers while they are not, while interacting with journalists in Port Harcourt, said steps have to be taken to discourage these irregularities.
He said that the results of such dishonesty have been noticed in the area of building collapse and other related issues in the housing sector, which have brought disrepute to the practice of engineering .
Denie maintained that time has come when certain decisions will be taken on how building contracts will be awarded and be supervised, especially in the public sector.
He said “proper verification of documents and claims of developers among other things have to  be ascertained so as to reduce quacks and impostors in the sector.”
According to him, proper engineering designs as it relates to the building has to be properly articulated, to ensure that the right facilities are put in proper places.
The expert, however, regretted that the issue of corruption has actually affected every facet of the nation making things difficult and complicated.

Corlins Walter