BUILDING FAILURE AND COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was on building failure and collapse in Nigeria. Jerac Construction Company, Emene, Enugu Nigeria as a case study.  Three objectives were raised which included: To find out the causes and failure of building collapse in Nigeria, to ascertain the components prone for building failure and collapse in Nigeria and to suggest solutions to building failure and collapse in Nigeria. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from Jerac Construction Company, Emene, Enugu Nigeria. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

Engineering businesses are recognizing that the effective and integrated management of design information is a vital component to achieving engineering and business goals. This study is an opportunity to contribute to re-shaping the thoughts regarding building failure and collapse in Nigeria. This agenda can be realized through research and industrial practice in the Nigerian construction industry. This is done within the context of the huge housing shortage in Nigeria for which there is, currently, no substantial measures in place to address this challenge. Construction industry in Nigeria has been facing challenges; housing shortages plus frequent building collapse. Collapse according to Oxford Dictionary refers to an instant of a structure falling down or giving away because of being weak. In architecture and construction, collapse can be considered as mechanical failure of building. Globally, building collapse is considered to be caused by one of the two major factors: the natural or man-made factors. These natural factors include but not limited to: landslide, earthquake, flood & erosion, mud-flow, thunder-storm and hurricane. While the man-made factors are as a result of human errors within the entire process of planning, design, construction and maintenance of building (Abubakar M, Ibrahim Y, 2014)

Structural failures are noticed all over the world. The rate of collapse and the magnitude of destruction are low in developed nations where strict adherence to building codes and ethics of professionalism are obtainable; even under severe natural hazards like earthquakes, catastrophic destructions are often contained. Moreover, in developed nations, natural factors are the predominant causes of building collapse, and perhaps progressive collapse where a particular cause leads to consequent collapse. Subsequently, the natural factors are now considered during planning and design to accommodate possible natural effect on building (especially for locations prone to such natural factors) (Amadi A, Eze C, 2012)

Since 1970s, developed countries are working to tackling building collapse due to accidents that involve major structural system; these accidents are the abnormal loads not considered in design (e.g., sabotage and gas explosions), extreme environmental effects as well as severe fires. Ellingwood asserted that:“No building system can be engineered and constructed to be absolutely risk-free in the presence of numerous sources of uncertainties that arise in the building process or from potential failure initiating events. However, building codes and standards provide tools for structural engineers to manage risk in the public interest”  On the other hand, developing nations have suffered from frequent collapse of buildings; a country like Nigeria has suffered catastrophic building collapse over the years due to predominantly man-made factors. However, there are very rare cases where collapse is caused by natural factors considering the country’s geographical location, except few cases of erosion and flood, and these are generally affecting low-rise (bungalows) buildings (Ayedun C, Durodola O, 2011)

Statement of the problem

For over three decades, Nigeria has experienced frequent building failure and collapse; 64 buildings were reported collapsed between 1974 and 2011 with fatality of about 300. Amongst the recent building collapse was a church pavilion collapse in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State which claimed about 200 lives on 10th December, 2016. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the main causes of such failures and find a solution to them. However, not much has been achieved in tackling this kind of menace. The studies by Dimuna, describes sub-standard building materials as the cause of building failure and collapse in Nigeria. Moreover, attribute building collapse to faulty design as well as lack of proper supervision. Therefore, most of the issues/problems could be attributed to actions and inactions of the parties involve from design down to construction stage. These parties include client, designers and constructors with the following professionals: architects, civil/structural mechanical and electrical engineers, quantity surveyors as well as builders. Most of the arguments and findings revolve around the sub-standard building materials, design and construction supervision as well as the local authorities that are responsible for design approvals and monitoring on compliance.

Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are;

1. To find out the causes and failure of building collapse in Nigeria
2. To ascertain the components prone for building failure and collapse in Nigeria
3. To suggest solutions to building failure and collapse in Nigeria

Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses were formulated;

H0: there are no causes and failure of building collapse in Nigeria

H1: there are causes and failure of building collapse in Nigeria

H0: there are no components prone for building failure and collapse in Nigeria

H2: there are component prone for building failure and collapse in Nigeria

Significance of the study

The study will be very significant to students and construction companies. The study will give a clear insight on the building failure and collapse in Nigeria. The study will suggest the solution to the problem of failure and collapse. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on the related to topic

Scope and limitation of the study

The scope of the study covers building failure and collapse in Nigeria. Study will be limited to some selected construction companies in Enugu State

There is no gain saying that there are no limitations in research work generally. Any shortcoming that arises in this study is as a result of factors which are beyond the researcher’s control.

Therefore, it will be of more importance to highlight certain militating factors that tend to narrow or limit my scope of study. This project research would have been easier if not for these limitating factors:

1. Time factor:time was not on the researchers to consult various sectors of the economy to review employees or given out questionnaire to various institutions on the effect of government revenue policies.
   As we all know, time is never our friend. The time scheduled for the completion of this research thesis was too short. As a result, generating information/data was strenuous as it coincides with final year examination period, which needed attention.
2. Finance:this is another barrier that limited the researcher’s work.

3.     Available resources: was unavailable for the research work.

Related Project Topics :