From Ifeoma Ejiofor
Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers on Saturday galvanized other professionals to walk against building and infrastructure collapse across the country in general and Anambra State in particular.
Other people who took part in the walk which saw the participants walking round selected streets of Awka, the Anambra State capital, are the duty bearers, lecturers, students and media practitioners.
The Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers powered walk also went to the premises of Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS) where they had the Managing Director (MD) of the establishment in audience.
The Awka branch Chairman of Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers, Engr(High Chief) Alex Ifeagwazi said that the institute decided to mobilize other critical stakeholders to walk against building and infrastructure collapse because of the incessant dangerous development.
“We want the government, the public and even engineers to say no to the ugly trend of building and infrastructure collapse. We want the general public to say no to the use of quacks, and look for qualified engineers whenever they want to embark on building constructions.
“Between 1974 and 2023, five hundred and fifty three building collapse were witnessed in Nigeria. In Anambra State, there are twelve cases of building and infrastructure collapse in just 2024, it is in the light of the incessant trend of building and infrastructure collapse that Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers decided to begin the new year with a sensitization walk.
“The message we are sending to Ndi-Anambra this morning is to avoid weak structure, avoid quacks, build right and stay safe, Engr Ifeagwazi said.
Engr Ifeagwazi commended the Anambra State governor, Prof Charles Soludo for including engineers in his administration, he however pleaded for the inclusion of more engineers in his government.
In his own comment, the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ABS, Chris Molokwu urged the professionals in the building sector to position themselves to tackle the dangerous trend of building and infrastructure collapse.
He said as a matter of fact that it is the engineers who can effectively spearhead the fight against quacks in the building sector.
Molokwu pledged the commitment of ABS to collaborate with the Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers and other fields of Engineering in the battle against building and infrastructure collapse in Anambra State.
“I want to advise the general public to avoid cutting cost whenever they want to build, and in the process have building collapse in the their hands, for me that would be tantamount to penny wise, pound foolish,” he said.
The immediate past chairman of Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers, Engr Dave Okeke highlighted some of the measures the institute has put in place to reduce building and infrastructure collapse to the barest minimum in the state.
Dr J.O.J Ulasi, Ralph Nweke and other speakers commended Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers for the initiative which they pointed out is timely and apt.