INVESTIGATION INTO CAUSES OF BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

Building can be defined as a constructed area aimed at providing shelter towards carrying out day-to-day activities for mankind (Dimuna, 2010). Building collapse is becoming a severe concern in Nigeria since it has a lot of influence on the economy notably the development sector. Many investors nowadays has failed owing to their strategies of developing property and therefore lead to waste of many lives and homes worth millions or billions of Naira in certain situations. The collapse does occur as a consequence of greed, incompetence and corruption on the side of the contractors and developers in building sector. The regulatory authorities and related professional organizations require coordination to guarantee adherence to construction laws in Lagos State (Chika, 2008).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Building can be explained as a structural that provides shelter to lives and properties; it could be a school, church, shop, or factory that has roof, walls. A lot of building specifically in Port-Harcourt and Lagos state have collapsed and thereby causing a huge economic waste and lost of lives of people and properties. From the experiment done so far by the researchers, it is being observed that building failed and superstructure failed. Bearing capacity failed due to high moisture content and differential excessive settlement. However, investigation of structural failure in building is an extensive research work, a lot of laboratory test, observation and analysis, but for the purpose of this project, effort have been made to reduce the research on those aspect considered very relevant. There are so many factors that could lead to failure in building and these failures have various modes with which they occur, it should be realized, however that errors are major causes of structural collapse and no matter how they are derived they are little help in preventing collapse resulting from them.

Some examples of structural collapse are as follows:

1. Terrorist attack, Pentagon, Washington DC 2001
2. Herron Road Bridge, Ottawa 1996
3. Terrorist Bombing, Murrah Federal Building, Owahoma City, 1995
4. Second narrow Bridge, Vancower 1958
5. Tank failure, Ashland oil co, Pitsburgh 1988
6. Quebec bridge (1907, 1916)

The frequency of collapse of building structures in Nigeria in the previous several years and lately has been highly scary and worrisome. Many lives and assets have been lost in the collapse of buildings predominantly in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos accordingly. Many property owners have acquired high blood pressure and others have been sent to an early death. A visit to the collapsing scenes were as illuminating as they were tragic and one could not but wonder why such contraption could have been allowed to exist or to what length individuals may go to make costs at the price of regard for safety and respect for life. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of structures of comparable characteristics dotting the skyline of several cities in Nigeria. That building collapse incidence are still routinely happening despite rising dissemination of technical knowledge over the years begs for some re-examination of progress in building production and control process (Dimuna, 2010).

Development and building of property is highly vital to every individual in life, as such, many persons immerse themselves in construction of property for either personal usage or for financial objectives. In Lagos State, every investor would desire to purchase a property owing to the fast economic growth and type of investment, while some are of prestige. No investor or property owner will be thrilled to watch his/her building fall. Therefore, the requirement to follow the requisite due procedure before commencing on development of property is crucial.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to investigate the Causes of Building Collapse in Abacha Road Rumueme, Port Harcourt Rivers State.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that plan review and performance standard are very important to everyone involved but most contractors and engineers have abandoned this practices.

The problems which has lead to failure are intended to be studied in this research are listed below.

1. The omission of some specification of critical element of building envelop by contractors in order to make out some profit from the contract. And also common building practices are generally into prevented building failure.
2. Most contractors are not aware of specific details and methods required for difficult or severe indoor environment.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the Causes of Building Collapse in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the role played by government and other stakeholders in the construction industry towards reducing the rate of building collapse in Nigeria;
2. To find the causes of building failure in construction work and the extent which this has affected the people involved; and
3. To investigate the effect of building collapse on construction companies in Nigeria;
4. To proffer recommendation on how building collapse can be reduced or totally stopped.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• How can building collapse be reduced or totally stopped?
• What are the causes of building failure in construction work and the extent which this has affected the people involved?
• What are the effects of building collapse on construction companies?
• What are the role been played by government and other stakeholders in the construction industry towards reducing the rate of building collapse in the Nigeria?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant factor causing building collapse on construction companies in the area under study
• H1: There is significant factor causing building collapse on construction companies in the area under study

Hypothesis Two

• H0: Quality of materials and workmanship has no significant effect on building collapse in Nigeria
• H1: Quality of materials and workmanship has significant effect on building collapse in Nigeria

1.7 Significance of Study

The study will be significant to the construction companies as it will expose the real causes as to why buildings collapse. Also, it will be significant to the government as it will make the law makers formulate a policy to guide the construction of buildings.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on Investigation into Causes of Building Collapse in Nigeria. The research is will cover only the Construction Industries in Port Harcourt Area of Rivers State which is in the capital city at plot 308 Abacha Road Rumueme, Port Harcourt of Rivers State.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Lack of adequate statistical, date or numbers of buildings that has failed in Port Harcourt Area of Rivers State.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Definition of terms

Building Collapse: any physical activity on the site involved in the erection of a structure, cladding, external finish, formwork, fixture, fitting of service installation and the unloading of plant, machinery, materials or the like.