NIGERIA needs an effective law that will strengthening the fight against building collapse which has caused loss of lives and property in the country.

This was made known by the President of the Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB), Mr Chucks Omeife, in a chat with Property and Environment last week, while further disclosing that it was time a drastic measure was taken to nip in the bud unwholesome practices that lead to building collapse in the country.

“Our fight against building collapse in the country will be greatly enhanced with the eventual passage of the National Building Code into law. The code seeks to punish not only the builders or constructors of a building that collapses but the clients of such a building as well.

“I can assure that one of the major reasons we still record cases of building collapse in the country is because there is no law to punish those found culpable. Immediately this is done, many people involved in building construction will sit up. Since we have been recording incidents of building collapse in the country, nobody has been punished yet, while the government has always been at the receiving end of such development through the payment of compensations.,” he said.