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A United Kingdom-based Nigerian chartered architect, Otunba Mobolaji Falase, has identified several factors responsible for the persistent cases of building collapse in Nigeria.
Falase, who is the Managing Director of Bolans Group, an architectural and design company, stressed the need for government regulation and supervision of construction activities.
The 70-year-old made this known in an interview with our correspondent, stating, “There is a lot of wastage in building materials in Nigeria. In some cases, concrete is still mixed by hand on-site.”
“The Standards Organisation of Nigeria should regulate this. In the UK, every batch of concrete used in construction undergoes testing. There must be rigorous government supervision.”
According to the septuagenarian, governments at all levels and stakeholders in the construction industry should invest in training artisans to reduce the frequent collapse of buildings in the country.
He said, “The establishment of training centres to educate our artisans would be beneficial to the nation at large. For professionals like architects and engineers, we must also introduce compulsory annual Continuous Professional Development, as practised in the UK, to keep them updated on new methodologies and research in their fields.”
Speaking about the opportunity he had to relocate to the UK through a scholarship scheme from the Lagos State Government, Falase said, “I came here (the UK) to study Interior Design at Chelsea College of Art, a College of the University of London, in 1974.”
Comparing British and Nigerian architectural design, he said, “Nigerian architectural design is similar to that of the United Kingdom because most of our designs and construction laws are modelled after British standards, except for adaptations made to suit our climate.”
“I believe Nigeria needs more technological advancement in construction to meet international standards and should prioritise the local manufacturing of building materials.”
