Expert Proffers Solution To Building Collapse

A professional builder,
Dr M.E Obiegbu, has called on builders across the country to patronize only sandcrete blocks dully certified by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON).
Obiegbu, who gave the advice as part of checks to control the building collapse menace, in a chat with newsmen in Awka, said the use of substandard materials was the major cause of building callapse in the country.
According to him, most of the collapsed buildings were either recently built or are still under construction, saying that this underscored the fact that the nation had a lot to do with quality assurance, both in the production process and in the application of relevant specifications.
Obiegbu, who is of the Department of Building at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka said that sandcrete block makers should ensure that their products are of high quality as stipulated by SON.
He said, “The right application of specifications would ensure the durability of your sandcrete bleck, thus aligning with the government’s aspiration for affordable housing for the nation”.
The expert said that the wrong application of materials and resources was the major cause of substandard sandcrete blocks.
According to him, most of the block makers tend to compromise the quality of materials they use in order to gain more in their business, but that this has adverse effect on structures.
He also urged SON to be visiting block makers sites to ensure that there is strict compliance to the set standard, stressing that SON should compel Block makers to belong to their association.