Abuja: Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) has called for stricter adherence to professional standards, greater use of qualified civil engineers, and enhanced quality control of construction materials to tackle building collapses. They made the call in Abuja on Thursday at the 25th NICE Anniversary themed ‘From Vision to Value, 25 years of Civil Engineering Excellence in Nigeria and Construction Expo Africa 2026’.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Deputy National Chairman of NICE, Prof. Sonny Ali, stated that substandard materials and the lack of usage of professionals are significant contributors to building collapses. Ali urged the public to prioritise quality by engaging professionally registered civil engineers, especially given the current concerns over substandard building materials in the market.
He emphasized that qualified engineers possess the expertise to identify defective materials, make necessary design adjustments, and ensure construction projects are safe and structurally sound. ‘I advise Nigerians to build once, build right. Do not be penny wise, pound foolish. Use professional civil engineering,’ Ali advised, stressing the importance of engaging qualified civil engineers who can identify substandard materials and make necessary design recalibrations.
Speaking on NICE’s 25th anniversary, Ali highlighted the institution’s growth in professional practice, intellectual development, and collaboration with the government over the past 25 years. He noted the continuous improvement in the practice, intellectual capacity, and governmental relationships of its members.
Mr. Samson Opaluwah, Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), praised NICE for its contributions to national infrastructure development over the last quarter-century. He emphasized the critical role civil engineers play in delivering roads, railways, buildings, and other infrastructure essential to national development, while acknowledging existing challenges that require attention.
Opaluwah called for government and public support for professional engagement at all project delivery levels, underlining the need for professionals to handle activities at political, operational, and tactical levels.
Prof. Samson Duna, Director-General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), delivered the keynote address, revealing that research conducted by NBRRI identified over 80 cases of building collapse with substandard materials being the highest contributing factor. Other factors included design errors, inadequate geotechnical investigations, and poor construction practices.
Duna emphasized the necessity for rigorous quality assurance procedures, advocating for proper testing of materials such as cement, aggregates, steel reinforcement, concrete blocks, timber, bitumen, and asphalt before use. He urged stakeholders to utilize accredited laboratories for material verification and called on government agencies and professional bodies to enhance regulatory oversight and conduct periodic inspections of manufacturers and suppliers.
The NBRRI Director-General suggested that professional bodies like NICE should periodically educate the public on identifying standard materials and advocated for government policies regarding standard materials for construction use.