A report by the Nigerian lnstitution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) on the collapsed 21-story building in lkoyi has revealed evidence of structural inadequacy in construction, design brief changes, and lack of proper quality control as a possible cause of the failed structure.

It stated that in the light of already gathered preliminary information about inadequacies of the collapsed building, as well as possible destabilising effects on adjoining and nearby buildings, it is imperative that a comprehensive structural integrity appraisal be carried out on the other two ‘14 and 15-storey’ buildings on the same site.

The institution made this known in the report of its preliminary investigation on the collapsed building to journalists, yesterday, in Lagos.

President of NIStructE, Dr. Kehinde Osifala, while presenting the report, said there were clear indications of several design brief changes on the project.

The engineering and management of these changes, he stressed, appeared to have been seriously inadequate.

He said: “The building that collapsed was initially designed for six floors and later to 12 before this was further changed to 15 floors. It could not yet be established the adequacy of any properly designed and documented further revision to the eventual and tragically final 21 floors that were being implemented and which collapsed. There are also indications that more than two structural engineering design firms worked on the project at different times. These findings remain preliminary until the recommended comprehensive investigation is carried out and the outcome of governmental and institutional panels have been determined.”

The investigation also revealed some evidence of structural inadequacy in the construction. It also indicated that signs of some structural distress had already started to show within certain elements of the building.

Osifala stressed that some remedial measures were already being undertaken to address some of those signs. However, he noted that the method of implementation was not in accordance with sound structural engineering practices.

“Lack of proper quality control and quality assurance measures and process during the construction was becoming noticeable as seen in the poor quality of concrete materials and workmanship observed during the examination of the collapsed debris. All these, which are very significant from the structural engineering point of view, need to be investigated further during the detailed investigation stage so that all factors related to the cause of the collapse can be truly established and appropriate lessons identified and implemented.”