Building collapse: Lagos BCPG takes campaign to block makers, holds practical demonstration Wednesday

Building collapse: Lagos BCPG takes campaign to block makers, holds practical demonstration Wednesday

• Seeks SON, LSMTL synergy for effective monitoring

 

Worried by the rising cases of building collapse across the country, a group, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, (BCPG) Ayobo-Ipaja Cell in Lagos, is taking measures to address the menace from the root cause.

The group has invited block moulders/makers and other relevant stakeholders to a workshop, practical demonstration of standard sandcrete block production holding Wednesday, December 04, 2024, in Lagos.

The grassroots advocacy against building collapse, it says, will hold under the theme: Maintaining the quality of sandcrete of blocks in an environment of volatile production costs.

The practical session will take place at Rasco Industry, 25 Fatade Road, Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos, according to a flyer of the event, a copy of which was obtained by Newstrends on Tuesday.

Director General and Chief Executive, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, will lead other major invited special guests to speak at the forum.

Others are the General Manager of the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency, Engr. Olayinka Abdul; Special Adviser to the Lagos Governor on E-GIS and Planning Matters, Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde; immediate past Lagos State Chairman of BCPG, Adekemi Okusaga; President, National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON), Prince Adesegun Banjoko, and Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Engr. Faith Oko-Ukomi.

The general intention is to eradicate substandard sandcrete blocks from the Nigerian building industry, according to the organisers, including Dr Mashood Abiodun Kusimo, an architect (Coordinator), AbdoulKarim Opeyemi Badmos, a builder (Secretary), Tony Amilegbe, a quantity surveyor ( Public Relations Officer) and Engr. Rotimi Ikugbayigbe, Olu of Ilado-Akoko, ex-officio and Royal father of Ayobo-Ipaja Cell.

A statement by the group stated, “It is an open secret that the quality of sandcrete blocks in Nigeria has been dangerously compromised. Why? High cost of production due to rapid inflation.

“Ironically, the conscientious few who endeavour to produce standard blocks are rewarded with low patronage because of higher selling price.

“Rather than fold our arms in a fait accompli, members of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, BCPG Ayobo – Ipaja Cell consider a proactive measure of collaborating with relevant agencies to see how this negative trend can be reversed.”

They also noted, “As specified by the Nigerian Industrial Standards ( NIS 87: 2007), the minimum compressive strength requirements for 150 mm (6 inches) hollow sandcrete block is 2.5 N/mm2, while that of 225 mm( 9 inches) is 3.45 N / mm2.
“When the strength of 225mm hollow sandcrete block is adequate, it makes load-bearing walls more attractive to affordable houses than the expensive framed structure building system.”

They urge the state government agencies such as Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to focus on building collapse prevention.
They noted, “Prevention of building collapse at the infancy stage is less expensive and superior to building collapse crisis management.”

Meanwhile, the group has called for a collaboration between SON and the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) to ensure effective monitoring of block moulders/manufacturers.
It also noted, “The essence of establishing the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON) was to provide a common platform for the promotion of quality block production.

“To save Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general from incessant building collapse is a task that we should not be discouraged from achieving.”