NIA expresses worry over spate of building collapse

Worried by the spate of building collapse across the country, the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Abia State chapter, has organised a two-day forum aimed at enlightening its members on the dangers associated with non-compliance to architectural practice.

The state chairman, NIA, Ikechi Ochulo, who declared this in his address to mark the 2017 World Architect Day, in Umuahia, said architecture played an essential role in planning for the future, sustaining population growth and tackling social problems.

Speaking on the theme, “Architecture and Sustainable Environmental Management 11,” Ochulo said waste generated by the use of the organic building materials, must be given priority in architecture.

Speaking at the forum, Director of Architectural Design in the state Ministry of Housing, Francis Kanu, revealed that in Abia, reported cases of building collapse had not been on the increase, compared to other states.

According to him, five cases had been recorded in the past four years in Umuahia.

He, however, attributed the menace to poor engineering components from engineers and not the architects, noting that the workshop was coming at a time when the country was facing reported cases of building collapse.

Also speaking, marketing director of an indigenous manufacturing company, Vincent Onyenmeri, said the workshop would reduce incidence of building collapse, attributing it to the use of inferior materials.

Onyenmeri noted that priority should be given to polystene materials that could  last for more than 40 years.

In his address, the national president, NIA, Tonye Oliver Braide, observed that the day was set aside to celebrate the role of architecture in national development.