By Kingsley Adegboye

Against the backdrop of last week’s rainstorm which wrecked havoc in various parts of Lagos,  the Nigerian Institute of Building NIOB has called for a result-oriented synergy among building construction professionals to ensure that such occurrences are nipped in the bud.

NIOB in a press statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, the  builders  sought a working relationship with researchers from other relevant institutes to create a platform for the needed synergy. Such a synergy will lead to scientific strides to confront the rising weather challenges.

The builders stated that in a nation where quackery reigns supreme due to inefficiency or non-existence of building control agencies, many Nigerian buildings might not stand the test of time. “The builders  called for those engaged in building constructions to always keep to standard construction practice to minimise the adverse impacts of such natural disasters.

The Institute said it will not relent in the training and retaining of builders and warned that any builder found to have compromised quality in the management of the  building production process on site will not be spared by the body’s disciplinary panel. The builders called on other professional bodies in the built environment to join hands with them to promote quality in the nation’s construction industry.

“Storm is a phenomenon which is ‘an obvious threat to our buildings that we have no control over. A choice to be rebuilding a house brought down by storm is  defeatist and should remain unacceptable. To researchers in the built environment professions, the attitude should be that of constructing buildings that will withstand storm, not rebuilding,” the NIOB said

Part of the statement read: ‘’In the design of buildings and other related structures, meteorological data, in the face of global changing climate, are very essential at determining the design variables. Isopleths of basic wind speed in Nigeria rate the coastal area less susceptible to hazardous wind effect. Wind pressure in the northern region is quite higher.

Hence, roof design and construction in the northern part of the country consider wind resistance more than the southern roofing system. But erratic wind speed of present time calls for greater prevention.

‘The wind velocity prior to the Lagos rainstorm was generally calm and as low as 02 knots. Then emerged the drown daft that was ossified by kinetic energy, resulting in maximum wind gust called squall. The three meteorological stations in Lagos recorded the squall as 45 knots at Stranchan Street, Lagos Island; it reduces to 40 knots at Oshodi and 35 knots at the Murtala Mohammed Airport. The least of these is strong enough to knock down a structure not designed and constructed to withstand squall.

‘’According to the Central Forecast Office of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the rainstorm was of micro-scale system, that is, unexpected; thereby it can happen again without warnings. In this peculiar circumstance, the onus is now on the professionals in the built environment, and with the support of the government, to ruminate on how best to mitigate losses resulting from extreme weather.

Warns again on flooding
‘Lagos experienced severe flooding due to unusual rainfall of 233.3mm on July 10, last year. Ibadan had a similar experience on August 26, 2011 though with the rainfall recording 88.2mm. Fourteen years ago, (June, 1997) Lagos was heavily flooded following a rainfall value of 237.3mm. This year, Nigerians have been warned by meteorologists of the impending heavy rain and the concomitant flooding.

Naturally, extreme weather condition repeats itself only on long intervals. But the frequency with which extreme weather condition returns nowadays could be attributed to climate change. In a science-oriented society, experts would begin to work assiduously in order to find solution to challenges of nature.

‘’As at today, Baca, a London-based firm of Architects, who are also flood specialists, has developed Britain’s first amphibious house. The house, if struck by flood would rise with the water and come down to its original position when flood recedes.