An appeal has gone to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Chukwuma Soludo to declare state of emergency on Oko erosion sites to avert further devastation.
The Chairman of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engineer Rita Ofojeama, made the appeal when she led members of Nigeria Society of Engineers, Aguata branch on tour of the gully erosion sites .
Engineer Ofojeama, who expressed worry over the devastation, appealed for urgent intervention of government as most houses in the area, including Professor Chuks Aginam, had caved in the gully erosion, urging government to help save the lives and property of people living closer to the erosion sites.
She also commended the state government for its efforts in putting smiles on the faces of people in the state by flagging off so many developmental projects, including Ekwulobia flyover and other roads projects in the locality.
The Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Aguata branch, Engineer Kenechukwu Onwughalu, Secretary, Engineer Friday Ibe and others, including Engineers Emeka Achukwu and Eliseus Obiekwe, suggested that both federal and state governments employ the services of professional Engineers for surveying to proffer lasting solution to the erosion menace.
From the Oko erosion sites, members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers also paid courtesy visit on a senior citizen and Civil Engineer at Isuofia community, Engineer Patrick Obidike, on preventive measures against building collapses in the state and country at large.
Addressing his guests, Engineer Obidike recounted how he waged war to stop quackery in Engineering profession while in active service, and urged members and government to uphold engineering standard and deal with quackery in order to minimize incidences of building collapses in the country.
In a presentation on causes of building collapse in the country, state and communities, as well as preventive measures, Engineer Andrew Okeke enumerated signs of building collapse to include, crack in the wall, sagging floor and displaced columns, and attributed causes of building collapse to weak foundation, use of substandard building materials, human errors, among others.
Other Engineers present also listed measures to adopt in addressing building collapse to include hiring of Architects or competent building contractors, soil testing, use of suitable foundation designs and construction, as well as complying with building regulations.
Responding, Engineer Ofojeama, who noted that Engineers require team work, recommended that governments employ professionals to help fight quackery in building industry, give appointments to credible individuals, as well as train and retrain staff to encourage professionalism.
In his vote of thanks, Engineer Emeka Achukwu thanked Engineer Obidike and the resource person, Engineer Okeke for hosting members of the society and remarked that a society devoid of collapse of buildings is attainable, if all adhere to the national building codes.
Comments are closed for this post.