The Building Collapse Prevention Guild has urged the Lagos State Government to utilize technology for monitoring building performance and preventing structural failures.
This was disclosed by the BCPG Ikeja Cell Coordinator, Gbolahan Oyelakin in an interview with the News on Sunday, according to NAN.
Oyelakin emphasized that implementing technology would enable the government to proactively identify potential risks in buildings before they escalate into serious problems.
“We need to deploy technology in monitoring the performance of buildings to avoid waiting for incidents to occur before responding.
“Technology can track the life cycle of a building, alerting us when materials are about to fail, which is key to preventing collapses,” he said.
He explained that life cycle assessments could help identify the use of substandard materials in construction, allowing authorities to intervene at an early stage.
“For example, if a material is supposed to last 10 years but a compromised material is used, technology can predict how long that building will stand,” he added.
Oyelakin commended the Lagos State Building Control Agency for its efforts to enhance building safety, highlighting their recent decision to demolish 15 unsafe buildings in Iponri.
He also recognized the agency’s proactive engagement with residents of these buildings to discuss the necessary measures moving forward.
In addition, Oyelakin emphasized the critical role of effective data management in preventing building collapses.
He pointed out that analyzing data could provide authorities with insights into how human behavior and cost-cutting measures during economic downturns impact the quality of construction.
“Data can reveal critical insights into how people make cost-driven decisions during building projects. Understanding these patterns can help in preventing future collapses,” Oyelakin noted.
Oyelakin also emphasized the necessity for stricter enforcement of insurance policies within the construction industry.
He expressed concern that many builders possess insurance policies merely on paper, failing to comply with their terms and conditions.
“Insurance policies are vital, but compliance is often neglected. Government needs to ensure strict adherence to these policies, with effective monitoring and control mechanisms in place,” he said.
The ongoing issue of building collapses in Lagos has raised significant concerns among construction industry professionals.
According to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the city has experienced at least 90 building collapses over the past 12 years, resulting in more than 350 fatalities.
