Poor materials major cause of building collapse – NSE

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has blamed the rising cases of building collapse in Nigeria on poor quality of building materials.

The Chairman NSE, Awka branch, Anambra State, Engr. Martin Agbili, said this during the Awka Branch’s NSE Annual Workshop and Induction of new members held in Awka recently.

Agbili who spoke to Daily Trust on the sideline of the workshop said NSE was worried about the incessant cases of building collapse in the country, and that its findings revealed that the major cause was poor building materials, adding that most building materials in the country lacked standard.

He further said, disturbed by the ugly incidences, NSE Awka chose the theme for the workshop as: “A Case for Standardisation of Measurements in Engineering Process”.

He said NSE was strategising to partner the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to fight substandard building materials in the country.

Also speaking to Daily Trust, the Publicity Secretary of NSE Awka, Engr. Ajegwu Fimbar, said government needed to tighten its policies against substandard materials in the country.

Engr. Ajegwu also said one major challenge NSE was facing in the country was poor quality of building materials as, “You hardly get quality building materials in the market.”

He, therefore, called on government to stop encouraging non-professional in the construction of projects in the country.