#SCOANGATE: We have an enforcement problem

In light of the recent SCOAN building collapse, YouTube Video here, many have complained that the church failed to obtain a permit from the relevant Building Regulatory authorities. For clarity, a two-storey building had been modified by the addition of four storeys; thereby making it a total six storeys. Federal and State laws and statutes give legal backing for the enforcement of the Building Code. What then is the Problem?

Building regulation is but one example. In Rivers State, where I am resident, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) State Chapter chairman, Dr. Korubo, had gone on rounds to check Fake Medical Personnel. This was done with the support of the State Ministry of Health and had the law enforcement agencies with them. A number of doctors without licences were arrested, some hospitals were shut down etc, all with press coverage. Was there any state prosecution of the defaulters? I don’t know if there was, as it didn’t receive as much press coverage.

Professional guilds, bodies and associations have a very large part to play in the conduct of practitioners of their corresponding professions. In more advanced countries, there are plumbing, painting, and carpentry guilds. A plumber wishing to carry out a project for an individual or company can be required to show proof of his qualification to carry out such a service. Why isn’t that the case here?

We have an enforcement problem!!!

Reading the Nigerian Constitution and other statutes, one would see laws required to guide the conduct of citizens. But these laws are not enforced. A majority of the population would rightly claim to be ignorant of the laws. Who then would enforce it?

Many people build houses in Nigeria. Some only hire a Student-Architect or Civil Engineer to make a building design and pay him off on completion of the design. They then proceed to find an experienced mason, who knows how to ‘set plumb line’. He becomes the Chief Consultant for the project. This is how things have been done by Nigerians. Abi, do we want to pretend ignorance of it? When things go wrong on such a project, Oga Mason (who his subordinates call Engineer) runs away. Thus, no one can be held accountable and the Client/Owner/Sponsor suffers alone.

Meanwhile, the law requires all building plans to be stamped and approved by the Ministry of Urban Planning & Development after proper scrutiny. The law states that the Ministry is also to provide oversight throughout the construction of the building. By oversight, I mean the following.

Ensure prerequisite tests have been taken and results meet required standards. Example: soil bearing capacity tests etc.
Make unannounced inspection visits to site. Visits in which their representatives:
Test random samples of building materials: cement, sand, gravel, concrete and reinforcements.
Do visual inspections of the construction processes. Example: checking that reinforcements are placed and bound properly, ensuring vibration of concrete etc.

Some visits are required at landmark positions during construction. These visits are at:

Foundation.
Flooring.
Lintel Level.
Decking.
Roofing.

These are from my recollections of the National Building Code. Please any corrections should be brought to my notice in the comments section.

_Are these steps followed by every Nigerian who is building?

NO!_

But they should be. It is not uncommon to see Ministry representatives demanding money, illegally, for playing their part. They don’t carry out tests they are supposed to, and they hardly pay attention to any stage of the construction. At least I haven’t seen any one of them carry out tests. Have you?

Every building construction has an Architect as principal consultant, and where multi-storey construction is involved, a Structural/Civil Engineer, is also commissioned. They are accountable for the building being constructed according to standards and they face queries from their professional bodies where their structures fail. At least I know COREN does enquiries. However, when due process is not followed it is near impossible to hold someone, other than the client, accountable.

Are you ready for that?

Can you point to a professional responsible for that building you are erecting in your village? Oh! Your friend/dad recommended an engineer, is he certified? It is easy to verify this now. Visit the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria website on http://www.coren.gov.ng. If a query fails, you can get a contact for your state branch there as well.

COREN has already set up an Investigation into the SCOAN collapse. Hopefully this holds the professionals to account. But until we enforce things being done rightly the first time – by builders, contractors and government regulatory bodies – I don’t think we’ve heard or seen the last of such incidents.

Interested in a copy of the National Building Code, 2006. Here’s a PDF of it: Nigerian National Building Code, 2006 (this is not hosted on my site, please inform if link fails to work)

#APostADay Challenge between @Saatah and me is still on. Expect another post later today.