Civil Engineers Stage Public Rally, Mobilize Stakeholders Against Building Collapse in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) has galvanized other professionals to walk against cases of 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 moved round selected streets of Awka, the Anambra State capital, are the duty bearers, lecturers, students and media practitioners.

The NICE 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 the institute decided to mobilize other critical stakeholders to walk against building and infrastructure collapse because of the incessant dangerous development.

He said, “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.”

While commending Governor Chukwuma Soludo for including engineers in his administration, Ifeagwazi however pleaded for the inclusion of more engineers in his government.

Also speaking, 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 pledged his organization’s commitment to collaborate with the NICE and other fields of Engineering in the battle against building and infrastructure collapse in Anambra State.

“As a matter of fact, it is the Engineers who can effectively spearhead the fight against quacks in the building sector.

“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 will be tantamount to penny wise, pound foolish,” he said.

The immediate past chairman of the Institute, 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 Joy Ulasi, Ralph Nweke and other speakers commended Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers for the initiative which they pointed out is timely and apt.