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Full Project – CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF TWO STOREY AT GWARINPA ESTATE ABUJA)

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INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Background of the Study

Over the last 10 years, the incidence of building collapse in Nigeria has become so alarming and does not show any sign of abating. Each collapse carries along with it tremendous effects that cannot be easily forgotten by any of its victim. These include loss of human lives, economic wastage in terms of loss of properties, jobs, incomes, loss of trust, dignity and exasperation of crises among the stake holders and environmental disaster (Ede 2010).

Buildings and the provision of safe and affordable homes are major contributors to sustainable development and through the centuries, these have been important aspects of the socio-economic development of humans. However the contribution of buildings to Nigeria’s development has not yielded the desired potentials because of failed projects and more recently their poor functional performance. It is common to hear of incidents of building collapse in major Nigerian cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu and Ibadan. There were over 112 incidents of building collapse in Lagos alone between December 1978 and April 2008 (Chinwokwu, 2000).

Sadly however, the issues of building collapse during and after construction has failed to receive the attention it deserve from public and private clients and other construction sector stakeholders in Nigeria. This is ironic because of the obvious consequences of building collapse on urban and socio-economic development. Buildings that meet desired performance requirements add value to the national asset stock and enhance its Gross Domestic Product. Such buildings are sustainable because they meet the needs of the present while also contributing to future needs. There is only one alternative to sustainability; unsustainability which underperforming buildings portend to Nigeria’s economy. Several productive lives and properties have been lost in the various incidents of building collapse in Nigeria, and these losses, which would only truly be felt by future generations, have negatively impacted the socio-economic status of its citizenry (Fagbenle and Oluwunmi, 2010).

According to encyclopedia Britannica, (2004), building can be defined as a roofed and walled structures built for permanent use for man’s living, working and storage. Buildings are structures, which serve as shelters for man, his properties and activities as quoted by Ayedun et al, 2012 in Umeora C. O (2013). To obtain the desired satisfaction, they must be properly designed, well planned, constructed and maintained. Failure in building can be defined as the incapability of the building components not being sufficient to perform what are normally expected of those components. Building failure is a common phenomenon all over the world but more rampant and devastating in the developing countries like Nigeria. The rate at which building collapse in Nigeria has reached a worrisome level in view of its alarming loses in term of lives and properties. Opara (2006) opined that the causes of this monster in order to proffer adequate solution of prevention, mitigation or preparedness. Each time a building collapses accusing fingers point at major industry stakeholders that ought to hitherto play both statutory and supervisory role before, during and after erection of a structure. These stakeholders include structural and Civil Engineers, Building Contractors, and Valuers, Architects, Town Planners, Quantity Surveyors and Lands Developers. Each of the categories of stakeholders and/or professional shares a peculiar blame in any incidence of building collapse depending on the nomenclature or causes.

However, building collapse is not only peculiar to Nigeria, it happens outside the country. Many lives were lost through sick buildings e.g. Tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004 (Tsunami, 2008) in Taiwo and Afolami (2011).The risk of a building collapsing increases when the proper review is not followed. This paper therefore reviews the causes of building collapse globally.

Ayininuola & Olalusi (2004) opined that every built structure is expected to satisfy the functional objectives of safety, serviceability, and economy. The processes of construction are complex and require the services of trained professionals. They further noted that a high level of skill is needed both in designing and construction. In his research titled “Structural Stability in Nigeria and Worsening Environmental Disorder: The Way Forward” Ede (2010) noted that every structural system is designed to meet some needs and be safe to avoid loss of life, property, and damage to the environment. In a normal set up, failures are not expected within the projected lifespan of structures. But due to the imperfection in the actions of human beings and the existence of so many other external factors that influence the safety of structures, failures do occur. He also observed that the factors responsible for building collapse are complex but a well-structured model designed for the Management of building collapse can give a more realistic prediction of those ones responsible for the collapse.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Building collapse is due to man’s negligence in some vital areas in construction such as soil investigation, incorporating design for extra loads, stress from winds, earthquakes, uneven terrain, use of substandard building materials, poor monitoring and overall poor workmanship. Madu, 2005, identified causes of building failure as due to natural occurrences such as earthquakes, tornadoes, flood, etc. Other causes according to him include factors such as omission, carelessness, leading to use of deficient structural drawings, absence of proper supervision of projects, alteration of approved drawings, use of substandard materials, corruption in the Nigerian system, building without approved drawings and translocation of building plans to different sites.

Ayinuola (2004), pointed accusing finger to all parties in the building industry, clients, architects, engineers, town planners in the local authorities and contractors stating that they have contributed to building failures in various dimensions. Tyagler et al, (2007) traced the causes of building failures to defects or deficiencies at design and construction stages. Ukpata, (2006), opined that the spate of building collapse in the country can always be traced to unsafe actions of parties involved in building process starting from clients to building consultants, contractors and users. Adebayo, (2006), opined that building collapse incidences can be controlled or minimized if the client is ready to pay for high quality materials and for expert professional services.

Building collapse in Abuja FCT has been a subject of concern for experts in real estate management. Therefore, the study purpose is to investigate the causes and effects of building collapse in Nigeria , Abuja FCT.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to find out the causes and effects of building collapse in Nigeria . To achieve the set goal, the following objectives will be pursued;

To examine the major causes of building collapse on properties in Abuja FCT.
To find out the social and environmental implications of buildings collapse on neighborhood in the study area.

iii. To evaluate the rate of building collapses in the country and its effects on the stakeholders in the building industry.

To examine the problems of Causes and effects of building collapse in Nigeria .

1.4 Research Questions

In order to accomplish the objectives of the study, the research questions were generated from the aims which are stated below:

What are the major causes of building collapse on properties in Abuja FCT?
What are the social and environmental implications of buildings collapse on neighborhood in the study area?

iii. What are the rate of building collapses in the country and its effects on the stakeholders in the building industry?

To examine the problems of Causes and effects of building collapse in Nigeria .

1.5 Research Hypothesis

H₀: Management of properties does not have effect on building collapse in Abuja FCT.

H₁: Management of properties has effect on building collapse in Abuja FCT.

1.7 Significance of the Study

It is with great hope that this study will provide more information for the following:

The results of this study will educate the general public on the causes and Management of building collapse in Abuja FCT in Nigeria with a view of reducing the issues of building collapse in Nigeria.

The outcome of this study will guide the government and policy makers on ways to make and implement policies that will reduce the rate of building collapse in Nigeria.

This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.

Research of this nature can be of considerable value in promoting sound methods to enhance the reduction of building collapse on the negative effects on properties.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study on the causes and effects of building collapse in Nigeria e will cover two storey at Gwarinpa Estate Abuja on the cases of two storey at Gwarinpa Estate Abuja and carefully examining the causes and majorly will also cover the consequences/effects of the building collapse in the affected area. There have been instances of building failures in different parts of the country, cases of abandonment of housing projects mid-way which led to building collapse but our focus is mainly some part of the cities in Abuja FCT.

1.8 Limitations of Study

With the research at its inception, the primary glitch would be the sourcing of related literature to aid the research. Also, availability of finance geared towards the research appears to be a limitation.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Building collapse: Building collapse is the falling away of building due to man’s negligence in some vital areas in construction such as soil investigation, incorporating design for extra loads, stress from winds, earthquakes, uneven terrain, use of substandard building materials, poor monitoring and overall poor workmanship.

Building collapses: Building collapse is a building that fell due to poor maintenance and infrastructure, security, dilapidation, natural disaster which has made the building not to be habitable.

Building Management: Building management consists of the interlocking functions of creating corporate policy and organizing, planning, controlling, and directing an organization’s resources in order to achieve the objectives of constructing a standard building.

Environment: This encompasses places and spaces created or modified by people including buildings, parks and transportation systems. It is also means material, spatial and cultural product of human labor that combines physical elements and energy in forms for living, working and playing.

Abandoned building: Abandoned building is a building that has left unoccupied by the owner or tenant for some period of time.

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