BUILDING COLLAPSE IN ONITSHA, A CASE FOR CONCERN.

ESV IGNATIUS KOSISONYE OKAFOR

In recent times, building collapse has become a recurrent decimal in Nigeria and Onitsha in Anambra State has got her share from it. There are a lot of factors that are responsible for building collapse. They include but not limited to:

1. Building expansion without joints on weak soil. Most of the buildings that are constructed recently do not have expansion joint especially on weak soil thereby paving the way for displacement during curing/settlement.
2. Lack of soil test before construction. Most developers are in a haste to see a finished building project and as a result of that, they do not have time for soil test. Buildings under such condition are liable to collapse with time.
3. Lack of building codes and standards in building. Developers believe that consultancy fees are high and unbearable. They therefore resort to self help and the use of artisan who lack requisite skills and experience of building codes. Most of those buildings lack adequate safety and are likely to collapse.
4. Lack of production drawing on site. Most developers throw away approved drawings and make use of their initiatives. Their argument is that they have done it over time. But building without production drawing poses grave danger to everybody.
5. Poor quality concrete mix. When concrete mix is not in the right proportion, it is bound to crack and that is an early sign of building collapse.

 Having stated the above, the undoing of Onitsha Metropolis is that most buildings either existing or  undergoing construction are on five or six floors thereby contravening Physical Planning Standards and does not have approval for erecting extra floors. It is appalling that Physical Planning Authorities saw those buildings without approval in Onitsha Metropolis and they look away.

Professionally speaking, those buildings are potential death traps awaiting its victim. Other areas such as Obosi, Inland town, Fegge, Nkpor and Omoba axis have these characteristics. It is expedient that the State Government declares a state of safety emergency and order preplanning of the area in order to save lives and properties. This violation of building codes and standards extended to Main Market and Ose Market.

There is an urgent need for the review of original Master Plan of Onitsha and main market in order to forestall further building collapse. The aim of the review is to revise the development action plan and raise Onitsha Metropolis up to an ultra modern and livable city.

Ontsha Metropolis has the potential of competing with countries like Dubai or Qartar if preplanned.

In a preplanned Onitsha, modern high rise buildings should be approved by the State Government and built by the investors with direct supervision by the government. While implementing the new master plan of Onitsha, the State Government needs to constitute a team of seasoned consultants in the built environment and financial sector in order to get the right aesthetics, strength and financial support. Roles of those consultants should also include project financing and implementation strategies among others which will be reported back to the government at interval as the project implementation progresses..

In implementing the new master plan, all shanties, dilapidated structures must give way for recreational facilities, schools, and other basic amenities.

Preplanning of Onitsha will improve/attract investors’ confidence in investing in Onitsha rather than the present practice of investors taking their investment and resources to Asaba. It will also reduce cash fright from Onitsha to Asaba to the barest minimum.

ESV. IGNATIUS KOSISONYE OKAFOR MNIVS, RSV

ESTATE SURVEYOR AND VALUER