Building Failure and Collapse in Nigeria: the Influence of the Informal Sector

The occurrence of building failure and collapse has become a major issue of concern in the development of this nation as the magnitudes of this incident are becoming very alarming. This paper therefore examines the incidents of building failure/collapse in Nigeria. By focusing on six major states from each of the six geo-political regions of the country, the paper examined the contributory role of the informal sector to this decadence. The study indicated that the building failure and collapse stem principally from hasty construction, low quality workmanship, poor supervision, inexperience (use of incompetent hands), ignorance, evasion/ non-compliance with building regulations and non enforcement of building quality, standard and control on construction site/market. This study has revealed that more than 70% of the reported cases of building collapse in Nigeria stemmed from the informal sector. It further showed that 70-0%, 23-3% and 6.7% of the reported cases occurred in private, public and corporate organizations respectively. In this paper, it is concluded that it is important to educate or giver further advice to the government and the governmental agencies to be proactive to their duties in order to curb/reduce this negative image

Constitutive Modeling of Wind Energy Potential of Selected Sites in Nigeria: A Pre-Assessment Model

In this chapter, the authors present the result of a study carried out to develop a pre-assessment model that can be used to carry out a preliminary study on the availability of wind energy resources of a site. 21 years’ (1987 – 2007) monthly average wind speeds for 18 locations in Nigeria were used to create the simple constitutive model. The locations span across the six geopolitical zones of the nation with three stations from each zone. Various statistical procedures were employed in the development of the model. The outcome gave an empirical model, which if employed, will lead to determining the mod- est range of wind energy potential of a site. Further, the results from this model were compared with those from the well-established two-parameter Weibull statistical distribution function and found to be reasonably adequate. Thus with this model, decision on site selection for complete assessment can be made without much rigour

Assessment of Wind Power Potential and Wind Electricity Generation Using WECS of Two Sites in South West, Nigeria

The study was used to analyze the wind characteristics of Shaki (08.40’ N; 03.23’ E; Altitude 457.0 m; Air density 1.1723 kg/m3) and Iseyin (07.58’ N; 03.36’ E; Altitude 330.0 m; Air density 1.1869 kg/m3), two local sites in Oyo State, Nigeria. 21 years monthly mean wind speeds at 10 m height obtained from the Nigeria meteorological department were employed together with the Weibull 2-parameter distribution and other statistics to carry out monthly, seasonal and whole years’ analyses of the sites’ wind profiles for electricity generation. It was found that the whole data spread ranged between 0.9 and 9.1 m/s for the two sites while the 21 years’ average ranged between 3.2 and 5.1 m/s and 2.9 and 4.7 m/s for Shaki and Iseyin sites respectively. Three wind energy conversion systems were employed with the results and it was discovered that, the sites have capacity to generate MWh to GWh of electricity at an average cost/kWh of between € (0.025 and 0.049) and that a turbine with technical parameters of cut-in, cut-out and rated wind speeds of 3.0, 25 and 11.6 m/s is appropriate for the sites

Maintenance Task as a Responsibility of a Professional Builder

This paper begins with a broad definition of building maintenance and an overview of its importance to all and sundry. It lays emphasis on the works and services department/maintpnance sections of some of government establishments in three key states of the south western part of the country namely Oyo, Osun and Ondo. This is also drne in such a way that it cuts across all the three arms of government · Federal, State and Local via the distribution of questionnaires and direct contact with the Directors of Works and Services and heads of maintenance units of these ministries/parastatals. Fifteen government establishments were covered in each state thereby bringing the total number to forty·five and this is with a view to finding the adequacy of representation of Professional Builders in the Works and Services/Maintenance sec.tions of these parastatals as well as the negative effect which the absence of these key professionals !Builders) might bring to the development of maintenance culture in the country. The results Indicated that 25 out of the 45 Directors of Wor~s and Services interviewed representing 55.56% are civil engineers while only 4 representing 8.89% are builders and out of these just two are Corporate Members of NIOB. On the other hand, 16 out of 45 heads of departments of the maintenance units representing 35.55% are civil engineers while 8 are builders and out of these only three are Corporate Members. This paper then concludes by offering suggestion on what the government, builders' registration council and the professional builders themselves can do sq as to give maintenance work the priority it deserves as well as having adequate representation of professional builders in the government establishment

The Role of Trade Unionism in a Developing Economy

This paper takes a colossal look at the function and performance of trade unionism in a developing nation with a special emphasis on West Africa as a whole and Nigeria iJ;l particular. It began with a broad definition of trade union in an ordinary sense and from a legal perspective. This was followed by a general review of the history of trade \ unionism in Nigeria and West Africa from 1912 to 1938,1938 to 1976 and 1976 to date. Some of the notable unions during the period of 1912 to 1938 were the Railway Workers' Union led by Pa M.A.O. Imoudu, the Nigerian Union of Teachers and the Nigerian Marine African Workers' Union. The unionism from 1976 to date on the other hand witnessed vibrant, radical and purposeful leaders like Hassan Sunmonu, David Ogeli, Ali Chiroma, Pascal Bafyau and Adams Oshiomhole. The paper thP.n revealed that the functions and objectives of trade unions can be classified under economics, political, educational and social activities. It was further revealed that workers nom1.ally join unions because union is better placed and stronger than the individual worker with financially and otherwise, in promoting and defending the terms and conditions of employment. The paper concluded by emphasizing that the trade unions have a vital role to play not only in the management of industrial relations but also in the progress of the community

Direct Labour System of Project Execution in Nigeria: A Case Study of Osun State College of Technology,Esa-Oke

This paper reviews the activities of direct labour a pproach with particular reference to my place of work. That is, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke. It starts by highlighting the origin of direct labour which had been in light operation since the 1930's to 1960's but which was popularised and given a full legal backing by the Sheu Shagari Administration in the late 1970's/early 1980's when the escalati o~ cost of the contracting system of project execution became a source of worry to them. The need for carrying out direct labour work is analysed,and the merits and demerits which the direct labour practice has over contract system are also fully elucidated. This is followed by the practice of direct labour in my place of work which is Osun State College of Technology , Esa-Oke and the necessary areas of improvement for the direct labour practice are laid down . Conclusion is then made by proierlng some useful sugges tions towards i n1p rove n~nt and better efficiency of the syste

The Performance of Traditional contract procurement on Housing projects in Nigeria.

The traditional contract procurement has been widely criticized as an ineffective procurement method because it often involves time and cost overrun on construction projects. Yet the method is still being widely used in Nigeria most especially for the procurement of housing projects. It is suspected that this procurement method may not be ineffective in all cost categories of housing projects. Therefore time and cost performances of the procurement method on 57 housing projects of varying cost categories initiated by the Nigerian government between 1993 and 1999 were studied. The category of one to five million naira (US$1.00 ≈ 92 Nigerian Naira in 1999) showed the least time overrun of 18.98% while the highest time overrun of 99.64 % was shown in the five to ten million naira. The over ten million naira category had the least cost overrun of 9.13% while the highest cost overrun of 34.55 % was shown in the less than one million naira. The one to five million naira cost category exhibited weak correlation between time and cost overruns but the five million naira and above categories showed strong correlation. It was concluded that one to five million naira cost category is quite suitable for traditional contract procurement on housing projects in Nigeria

Legal Aspect of Building Maintenance Works

This paper highlights the legal face t s of maintenance practice with special emphasis on Building. It begins with an overview of building maintenance and proceeds to identify the legal implications for owners and occupiers of buildings . This is done.by reviewing Section 72 of both the Housing Acts 1961 and 1969 of the United Kingdom, the Joint Contract Tribunal and the tort of negligence. The paper also takes a look at the building deterioration and liability in law and again highlight s the defenses that are available to occupiers/ repair contractors. These include the act of God, consent of the plaintiff, common benefit of the plaintiff and independent act of third party. The paper also takes a look at nuisance as a whole. It concludes by recommending a thorough knowledge of the conditions binding on the parties so as to reduce the possibility of disputes that normally arise among the concerned parties

The Use of Large Unskilled Labour Force for Non-Traditional Residential Projects in Nigeria

This paper contents its attention on the large use of unskilled labour force for non-traditional residential buildings in particular and for the construction works in Nigeria as a whole. The writer notes wit h sadness that a major unemployment of all categories of workers in the construction .industry especially the unskilled ones is now on the increase, unlike before when the construction industry used to be the largest industry in the nation employing an appreciable proportion of the work force . The reason adduoed £or this is as a. result of the non reflection of indigenisation in moat of the architectural designs and the non patronisation of our indigenous contractors which in turn leads to mass use of mechanical plants and other sophisticated but costly constructional items . items thereby rendering thousands o£ able bodied men and women 1n the construction sites redundant. It is noted further that this l)q"'"' ~ development has lead to increase in crime rate in the country and a drastic reduction in construction profits especially when one views the high exchange rate used in procuring these equipment and the overall maintenance costa. Towards reversmg from this ugly practice therefore, the need for the use of unskilled labour force is particularly stressed and useful suggestions towards realizing this goal are discussed in this manner