The Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers Awka chapter has intensified awareness campaign and sensitization of the people through an advocacy “Walk Against Building And Infrastructure Collapse in Awka, which attracted many stakeholders including the Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Infrastructure, Honourable Emma Nwafor, Engineering Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, community leaders, stakeholders among others.
The group who walked through some major roads in Awka carried placards with various inscriptions including, “Safe building is a human right, “Engineering ethics must come before profit, ” Infrastructure failure is a national emergency”, “stop quackery in construction”, among numerous others.
Addressing journalists after the walk, the Chairman of the institute, Engineer Chidi Obiudu explained that the awareness and advocacy programme was aimed at promoting public consciousness on safe construction practices, professional ethics, and the dangers associated with substandard building materials and poor workmanship as well as seeks to engage key stakeholders, professionals, and the general public in advocating improved construction standards, while the State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Works and Infrastructure, Honourable Nwafor stressed that building of any structure should follow lay down rules, regulations and specifications.
In their separate contributions, a community leader and Vice Chairman of the institute, Engineer Chidi Anuligo, a university lecturer and Secretary of the institute, Engineer Collins Okoli and Comrade Emmanuel Chukwunonso from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, all said that professionals should focus on areas of specialization and get necessary approvals from relevant agencies before commencing construction to build safe structures.
