More than a day after a building collapse trapped four construction workers and killed one in Enugu metropolis, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), has explained why no one is yet to be held accountable for the tragedy.
InfoWars reported that a hotel build under construction gave way in the early hour on Sunday morning, injuring four workers and leaving one dead.
As at 10 o’clock this morning when COREN members visited the scene, the identities of professionals who were involved in the construction were still unknown. Blaming the obvious difficulties on overlapping layers of regulatory authorities in the state, the civil engineering body reiterated calls to participate in regulating construction in the state.
Addressing the press at the site, COREN chairman in Enugu State, Engr Bartholomew Ede, reiterated calls for the state government to allow them assist in checking the activities of engineers in Enugu State.
“For example, here, we don’t know who is the owner,” Ede said, added that “we don’t know who designed it. We don’t know who is in charge of the site in terms of engineering supervision.
According to him, there are number of lapses construction nonprofessionals could exploit with current system. He maintained that if COREN had been duly involved, the ugly incident at Rangers Avenue would probably be averted.
When asked the extent their participation was expected to teach, Engr Ede said COREN should be involved from the onset, from the drawing level.
“When we look at that drawing, we want to know from the development controller, from the owner of the building, who is it? We will come there and see what is happening, how the foundation is being done, what is the quality of concrete that is being put, what are the reinforcements, are they according to the design? Who is supervising it? Is that person qualified to supervise it? He said.
According to him, it’s not a problem of absence of relevant laws that was the problem for COREN has a robust set of regulations which adequately detailed its roles. Rather, it’s the challenge of zero implementation of those laws.
If we catch the engineer of the collapsed building he may go to Kuje prison – S’East COREN Chairman
The regional chairman of COREN in South-East, Engr. Peter Awunde, was also present at the scene. While insisting it was only forensic investigation which would confirm whether or not the construction engineer was to be held responsible for the collapse, he pointed out various other oversights that could exonerate the construction engineer.
He narrated an incident which occurred in the past in Port Harcourt where a particular building collapsed. When investigation began, it was discovered that it had nothing to do with the engineer’s professionalism. While he built, the construction was allegedly supervised by a pharmacist.
However, Awunde added that in event where a COREN member is found culpable, there is awaiting disciplinary organ of the council which would deal with it in accordance with laws.
He said: “If at the end of this investigation, we are able to get one or two persons who are culpable and are engineers, we will invite them to Abuja to go and face that disciplinary tribunal. If he cannot defend himself properly, his licence will be withdrawn. If the nature of the offence is so enormous, he can, at that point, be taken to Kuje prison in Abuja.
He also urged the government to give COREN more responsiblity, adding that members of COREN are “partners in the Nigerian project. Our aim is to make Nigeria good,” he said.