The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) has attributed the recent collapse of a two-storey building at Saint Academy in Jos to the use of substandard materials and poor construction practices.
Samson Duna, Director General of NBRRI, made this disclosure during a news conference on Tuesday in Jos. The tragic incident, which occurred last Friday at approximately 8:30 a.m., took place at the Busa-Buji community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Housing TV Africa reports that the collapse led to the death of 22 individuals, while 132 others sustained severe injuries.
In response to the disaster, NBRRI constituted a committee to investigate the incident, headed by Professor Fredrick Job of the University of Jos. Duna revealed that the committee’s preliminary investigation indicated that the structure was already in a state of distress prior to its collapse.
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“The committee discovered that the quantity of concrete used was questionable due to a lack of bond between the concrete and the steel reinforcement,” Duna stated. “Additionally, the slab reinforcement anchorage was inadequate, and the sizes of the foundation footings were smaller than the required 1200 mm x 1200 mm.”
The committee, approved by the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, aims to uncover the causes of the collapse and identify those responsible for the structural defects.
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Based on interviews with eyewitnesses and experts, the committee’s preliminary report highlighted critical issues in construction practices that contributed to the building’s failure.
Duna assured the public that NBRRI is committed to ensuring accountability and will work tirelessly to bring those responsible for the collapse to justice. He emphasized that the findings of the committee would be crucial in preventing similar tragedies in the future.