Imported User:
As the rainy season gathers momentum, the Minister of Science and Technology (MST), Prof. Ita Ewa has told Nigerians to expect more buildings collapse.
The minister said this at the national technical workshop on collapse buildings in Nigeria organized by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) yesterday in Abuja.
He said: “Building collapse is clearly a national problem, for example in the first quarter of this year (2012), there has been loss of lives, injuries and los to economy from building collapse in Awka – Anambra, Gwarimpa – Abuja, Ilorin – Kwara and I am informed, that we should expect some more collapse as the rainy season goes by.”
Ewa noted that another major challenge Nigeria was battling with was the failure of road pavements. “More deaths and injuries as well as economic damages are being inflicted upon this country by the failure of road pavements, traffic accidents and other related problems,” he added.
The science and tech. helmsman called on NBRRI to embark on massive enlightenment and capacity building exercises of construction workers to curb the spate of building collapse in the nation.
Ewa said: “There is need for capacity building through Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and the need to train skilled workers for the construction industry like Draughtsman, Detailers, Masons, Block Layers, Iron Benders, Plumbers, and Electricians.”
Earlier on in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta said that the conference aim was to articulate concise steps to stem the tide of buildings collapse.
“The ministry does not believe that buildings collapse by themselves in any country in the world at the alarming rate that was being witnessed recently in Nigeria,” she stated.
