News
Nigeria records 22 building collapse, 33 deaths in 7 months – COREN
By Francesca Hangeior.
The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the regulatory body governing the practice of engineering, has said that Nigeria recorded 22 building collapses between January and July 2024.
The President of COREN, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, made this known while addressing a news conference with the theme: ’’The Incessant Spate of Building Collapse in Nigeria in Recent Times: A Call for Sustainable Collaboration by All Stakeholders.
Abubakar said that from January to July 14 alone, at least 22 cases of building collapse have been reported in Nigeria, with Lagos accounting for 27.27 per cent, Abuja and Anambra at 18.18 per cent each.
He added that Ekiti and Plateau followed with 9.09 per cent each, and Kano, Taraba, and Niger states accounted for 4.55 per cent each.
“Records also showed that Lagos takes the lead in the incidence of building collapses.
“As a matter of fact, over 91 buildings have collapsed, resulting in the deaths of over 354 persons in Lagos from 2012 to date.
“Similarly, in Abuja, about 30 buildings have collapsed from 1993 until date, resulting in the deaths of more than 64 persons and injury of many.
“The most recent occurrences of building collapses close to DMGS Onitsha, Anambra State, on June 12 and that of a school (Saint Academy) in Plateau on July 13, where 22 students died and 134 were injured, as well as the building collapse in Kubwa, Abuja.
He said that the incidents were worrisome.
According to him, this calls for deep reflection and collaboration among all stakeholders in stemming the tide.
’’While we commiserate with all victims and families, we want to commend the efforts of all emergency and security services for their prompt response at the time.’’
According to Abubabkar, the leading causes of building collapse vary from one location to the other.
He said some buildings collapsed as a result of ageing, and from some investigations and research conducted over time, use of substandard construction materials and structural failure were also responsible.
He said that other factors included the illegal change of use of buildings, illegal addition of floors, quackery, and inadequate or lack of supervision and oversight.
He added that other factors were faulty foundations, a lack of soil or geotechnical investigation, and sharp and corrupt practices, among others.
Abubakar also commended the respective affected state governments for constituting a panel of enquiry to look into the various cases with a view to finding out the immediate and remote causes and preventing future occurrences.
“This is not the time for apportioning blame or contest of superiority within the built environment, but a time for all stakeholders to unite and proffer workable and lasting solution, particularly in the prevention of building collapses.
“All professionals within the built environment have a role to play in this.
“In this regard, we have identified and categorised many stakeholders that we will be engaging shortly,’’ he said.
The President said that the proliferation of illegal miners even within residential areas, as reported in some quarters, was a danger to the structural stability of buildings.
He added that the council had therefore, urged affected states to take urgent steps to reverse the trend, adding that it was also time to enforce the compulsory insurance of some buildings under construction.
Abubakar said that, perturbed by the incessant and avoidable incidences of building collapses in Nigeria and loss of lives in recent times, COREN had deemed it necessary to make major moves.
He said that COREN had taken some steps to monitor and prevent building collapses by training and licensing Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) inspectors.
Abubakar added that COREN had reconstituted its Council Committee on Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) and added an additional role of enforcement to its responsibility in line with the amended COREN Act.
He said that COREN had constituted the ERM&E Task Force at regional levels, including Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, FCT, Gombe, and Lagos, among other steps to tackle building collapse.
News
NYSC announces date for ‘2024 Batch C’ registration
The management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, on Wednesday, announced the date for the online registration of prospective 2024 batch C stream I corps members.
The management said the exercise will commence on Thursday, 14 November, 2024.
This was made known in a post on the official X handle of the NYSC on Wednesday.
“Online Registration for 2024 Batch ‘C’ SC Stream I commences 14th November 2024,” the statement read.
The orientation course will commence later on a date to be announced by the NYSC management.
News
More Nigerians, Others Deported By Libya Govt
Few months after many Nigerian were deported, the Department for Combating Illegal Migration in Libya has deported seven Nigerians, three Bangladeshis, and three Ghanaians detained at the Qanfoudah Immigration Detention Centre.
The deportees were flown out of Libya via Benina International Airport in Benghazi.
in a statement on their X handle on Tuesday, confirmed that these individuals were deported for violating Libyan law.
The statement read, “DCIM deported 13 migrants (3 Bangladeshis, 3 Ghanaians, and 7 Nigerians) from the Qanfoudah Immigration Detention Centre via Benina International Airport in Benghazi. All individuals, ,,,were deported for violating laws in force in the Libyan state.”
At the time of filing this report, total number of deported Nigerians still sketchy.
News
Abia Assembly orders Deputy Governor, Emetu to apologise over assault on House member
Abia House of Assembly directs Deputy Gov Engr Ikechukwu Emetu to issue an unreserved apology to the house over assault on the member representing Ohafia South, Hon Kalu Mba Nwoke.
The motion which was moved by the member representing Ukwa West , Godwin Adiele was supported by other members
Kalu Mba Nwoke was reportedly assaulted at the Ohafia Local government Secretariat on Saturday, 2nd of November 2024( date of the just concluded local government elections)
The lawmaker alledged that he was assaulted on the orders of the Deputy Gov Engr Ikechukwu Emetu because he demanded that election result sheets should be available before the elections.
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