By Hadiza Ndadama, Abuja
Last updated October 19, 2023
The Nigerian government has pledged to collaborate with stakeholders and professional bodies, especially in the field of engineering, to carry out integrity tests on major bridges and buildings across the country.
During a visit to the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute in Abuja, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, emphasized the importance of integrity testing in reducing the incidence of building collapse.
In his statement, Nnaji highlighted that building and bridge collapses pose significant social, economic, and safety concerns that require urgent attention. He announced plans to partner with relevant stakeholders and professional bodies to ensure the integrity testing of all major infrastructure nationwide.
The Minister also committed to supporting the agency in addressing staffing gaps by recruiting highly skilled research officers to enhance the Institute’s capabilities.
“I am aware of the challenges faced by NBRRI with regards to their mandate. I will leverage my position and available resources to advocate for the President’s assent to the NBRRI Bill, enabling its full implementation,” Nnaji stated.
The Minister commended the Institute’s management for their efforts in revitalizing NBRRI and pledged to address the issue of inadequate funding by engaging relevant authorities to improve funding levels.
Professor Samson Duna, the Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, highlighted the organization’s role in investigating building collapses in Nigeria. He identified various human errors as the major causes of such incidents, including design flaws, insufficient geotechnical investigation, lack of technical expertise, poor construction materials, and inadequate skilled manpower.
Prof. Duna clarified that building approvals fall under the jurisdiction of state development boards, emphasizing that the federal government is not responsible for these approvals. He urged for a proactive approach in addressing building collapses and ensuring accountability at the state level.
With regards to innovations, the DG of NBRRI called on investors to collaborate with the agency in bringing their products to the market. He specifically highlighted Pozzolana, a cost-effective alternative to cement produced from waste materials, as a groundbreaking solution that can help reduce the cost of construction.
One of the major challenges faced by the agency is the limitation of land space. Prof. Duna appealed to the government for a bigger land area to establish a technology village where research findings can be practically demonstrated.
