How to stop building collapse in Nigeria – Expert

A fire and safety expert, Mr. Oluwaseyi Oduye, has urged professionals to adhere to building codes to stop incessant building collapses in Nigeria.

Oduye, a Superintendent of Fire and Head of Special Duties, Federal Fire Service, Abuja, stayed here in Ibadan on Friday for a seminar.

Supreme News reports that the seminar was part of the activities for the mega reunion of the Methodist High School Old Boys’ Association, Ibadan.

Oduye, a member of the 1988 set and one of the facilitators of the seminar, decried what he called the lack of importance attached to health and safety by Nigerians.

Speaking on health, safety, environment and career development opportunities, he said that in Nigeria, only a few knew fire precautions.

“Few people know how to manage or prevent fire incidents and other disasters in our environment, such as floods, building collapse and so on.

“We have been having incidences of building collapse throughout Nigeria and how do we manage them?

“This is part of what we are talking about,” he said.

Oduye noted that relevant agencies and professionals, like environmentalists, architects, and engineers, must rise to their duties right from the conception of building projects.

He stressed the need for getting in tune with modern applications in construction.

"An application of the building code is there, which Nigeria has not been using, and this is supposed to serve as a guide to builders on building construction.

“If you are supposed to use 10 bags of cement and you are using four or five, automatically there will be a shortfall, and that will lead to building collapse,” he said.

The fire and safety expert further said everyone involved in the construction industry must endeavour to do the right thing and follow standard practise.

He said that the interventions of the old boys had transformed the school, adding that everyone should get involved in giving back to their alma mater.