The Ebonyi State Government has unveiled a Professionals’ Building Approval Compliance Form designed to curb issues of building collapse in the state.

The form was officially introduced at the weekend in Abakaliki, the state capital, by the Commissioner for Capital City and Urban Development, Chief Sunday Elechi Inyima, in collaboration with six professional bodies involved in building construction.

Inyima explained that the Ministry developed the form to ensure that every developer in the state complies with the necessary building standards.

According to him, the document incorporates inputs from six key professional bodies in the built environment, covering architectural design and all major aspects of building construction.

He appreciated the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who is also a professional Builder o, noting that the governor has performed excellently across all sectors, including the building industry.

Chief Inyima said:

“We have come together to introduce an initiative that will drastically reduce, or bring to a halt, the issue of building collapse within urban estates. Before now, we have recorded cases of building collapse in the state, although it is not peculiar to Ebonyi alone. It happens everywhere, across the country and even globally.”

The unveiling was witnessed by representatives of the architectural, mechanical engineering, civil/structural engineering, building, electrical engineering, and town planning professional bodies.

Speaking on behalf of the Architectural Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCN), the Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Ebonyi State chapter, Architect Nwakpu John, commended VicSunny Energy Limited and Ifeanyi Okereke (Ereke) for registering their projects in line with professional standards. He urged other developers to work closely with professionals to ensure compliance.

He advised, “Developers should liaise with professionals to know their requirements because these people have passed the necessary examinations. Before you begin your design, make sure ARCN is involved. Meet the professionals so you don’t end up presenting drawings that will be rejected, especially now that printing costs are high.”

Also speaking, Engineer Eni Enyinnaya, representing the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Ebonyi State, stressed that adherence to certified designs would guarantee the durability of developers’ investments.

He said, “When you follow this process, you will sleep peacefully, knowing your project will not fail. Once the best hands certify your design and you adhere to best practices during construction, your investment will stand the test of time.”

Enyinnaya described the new form as a compendium of all required engineering professionals needed to certify any building design for execution, expressing confidence that building collapse would soon become a thing of the past in the state.

He added, “The civil/structural engineer takes over after the architect provides the design concept. The mechanical engineer ensures compliance with mechanical specifications, while the electrical engineer ensures that electrical standards are met. Once these are in place, your building is surely safe”. (Saturday Independent)