BUILDING COLLAPSE: AN EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BUILDING REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS

 (A CASE STUDY OF MINNA, NIGER STATE)

ABSTRACT

 This study aimed at evaluating the regulatory frameworks, the implications, effectiveness and how it can contribute to the reduction of building collapse. The study examined the available frameworks to tame collapse of building, the implementation, of those regulations and to investigate if the legislation could be implemented to curb the building collapse menace in Niger state. The methods employed in gathering information involve the use of primary and secondary data collection. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. 50 questionnaires were shared to respondents and 40 questionnaires were collected and analysed. The result revealed that low staff strength and project manager compliance to urban development laws is low. The study concluded that there is need for a well organized enforcement system, increase in their staff strength because of the rapid increase in construction projects, free from corruption to gear up the enforcement of the building code, hence achieving sustainable built environment to reduce building collapse in Niger state.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

1.1   Background of the study

Fadamiro (2002) defined as building as an enclosed spaces designed for specific use, meant to control local climate, distribute water and quality services and evacuate waste. They are expected to be functional and aesthetically appealing to the user but many projects are constructed that do not meet any of these basic requirements.

         

Buildings can be defined as structural entities capable of securing self by transmitting weights to the ground. Buildings are defined as any type of structures for human activities, which must be safe for the occupants (Odulami, 2002). However, these same buildings have been contributed to posing treats and dangers to people either during or after construction as a result of its collapse.

        

Building Collapse as a whole occurs when part or whole body of a structure fails and as a result of this failure, could not meet or can not the purpose for which it was meant for Building collapse is an extreme case of building failure. It means the superstructure crashes down totally or partially (Arilesere, 2002). Building failure can be said to have occurs when there is a defect in one or more elements of the building caused by inability of the material making up the components of such building elements to perform its original function effectively, which may finally lead to building collapse. Buildings are meant or over the years have meant to provide conveniences and shelter to the people, but the same building has been a danger trap to the same people. Building is expected to meet certain basic requirements such as buildability, design performance, cost effectiveness, quality, safety and timely completion   (Olusola, Atta & Ayangade, (2002).

        

The frequency of collapse of buildings in Nigeria in the recent past has been threatening and embarrassing or devastating. Individual opinions differ radically from one another on the professional to blame for building collapse. Nigeria is not yet famous as a country ravaged by natural disasters like other countries. However; the country is not without her own share of disasters, which are chiefly or mainly man-made (Falobi, 2009).The world is however becoming dangerous as a result of the geometrical increase of population growth, urban development in coastal areas, poor planning and housing developments in high risk areas of the city. In recent times, the incidence of building collapse in the country’s major cities especially in Lagos have been alarming (Adegoroye, 2006). The recurring incidence of building collapse, some of which claimed innocent lives is a consequence of this. This phenomenon certainly deserves adequate or quick attention .

           

This paper examines the occurrence of building collapse from a legal perspective for the effects or liabilities, legal implications and sanctions required to tame the monster, Building Collapse.

               

Numerous studies have been carried out and various workshops organised in major cities of the country by various bodies, government agencies and institution in order to look into causes and prevention of building collapse in Nigeria (Ayodeji, 2011). There are many factors that cause building collapse in Nigeria and they are structural design and quality management according to Olusola(2002). The quality management entails material variability, testing variability, judgment factor, contractors’ variability, poorly skilled workmen and unprofessional conduct, but all the determined factors leading to building collapse in the country can be directly or indirectly related to the negligence of the regulatory frameworks. The study aimed at examining causes of building collapse in Nigeria with respect to historical data of available incidence of building collapse from a legislative perspective.

1.2 Need for research

Several causes of building failure had been attributed to either natural or man-made. A natural phenomenon can be attributable to landslide while man-made phenomena that consists of disaster which can be borne out of man’s negligence in areas such as soil type, building design and planning for extra loads and stress from strong winds, foundation works, quality of building materials, lack or inadequate monitoring of craftsmen and poor quality of workmanship according to Oloyede et al (2010).

The causes of building collapse in Nigeria has been to abnormal factors not obtainable in many other developing nations ( Ede, (2010a)

1.3   Research questions

1. What are legal frameworks available to curb building collapse in Nigeria­?
2. How effective have the legalation been?
3. How have their inadequacies contributed to building collapse?
4. What are the legal implications that would be taken if professionals neglect these laws?
5. What are the remedies to be taken to make the legal frameworks/legislation effective in other to reduce building collapse?

  1.4   Aims

The study aims at examining the regulatory frameworks, the implications, effectiveness and how it can contribute to the reduction of building collapse.

1.4.1 Objectives

1) To examine the available legislative framework of controlling collapse of building in Niger state.

2) To look at the implementations of the regulatory on building collapse in Niger state.

3) To investigate if the frameworks can be used to reduce building collapse in Niger state.

1.5 Scope and Limitation of Study

The scope of this work is to investigate how the implementation of regulatory frameworks could affect building collapse to examine the causes of building collapse in Niger state with a view to proffering solution to identified causes and in attempt to achieve the objectives.

1.6    Methodology of the study

The method employ were the use of primary collection of data which involve interview, observation and administration of questionnaire to the occupant of Minna. Relevant literature, textbooks, conference paper, literature review, gazettes, magazines, past project, journals e.t.c. relating to the subject were also reviewed consulted as source of secondary data.