Anambra Imo River Basin Dev. Authority boss, Osuagwu proffers remedy to Building collapse

By Onyinyechi Nwankwo. 

In order to reduce building structural collapse, the civil engineering regulatory agencies particularly COREN have been told to make sure that the results of investigations on quack engineers are fairly disseminated so that offenders are stiffly punished in line with the ethics of the Civil Engineering Profession.

The solution to curtail collapse of structures was proffered by the Managing Director of Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Gerald Okechukwu Osuagwu, while having audience with media professionals, during the Investiture/Inauguration of Engr. Prof. H.E. Opara as Chairman of Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE), Owerri Chapter, held at Owerri Engineering Center, on Wednesday.

Osuagwu, who said Civil Engineering is the father of engineering, advised real Civil Engineers to hold tenaciously to the ethics of the profession, shun inducement that will make them do some sharp practices and sanction people found wanting in the course of construction.

“Now, everybody is claiming to be an engineer. A common artisan – even a mason, his villagers call him engineer. Some times, you do not know who is an engineer. And Some people also, in order to save cost, do not engage real engineers. That is part of the problem.

“Some times, you do not rule out the possibility of sharp practices. These days, people are in the quest of making big gains; they reduce the quality of materials to be used and that anomally has direct impact on the integrity of the structure”, Osuagwu pointed out.

Osuagwu who was given an award by NICE over his great impact to the advancement of Civil Engineering in Imo State especially through the Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority, said his over 40 years of being a civil engineer had been impactful, expressing elation and gratitude over the accolade which he added would spur him to more positive efforts.

Making an inaugural speech, Engr. Prof. H.E. Opara, identified that building collapse is one of the challenges Civil Engineering Profession encounters, hence stated that team work with ethical discipline would help in no small measure to overcome the issue which he regretted is very alarming in the society.

Just as the traditional ruler of Ude Nkume autonomous community in Obowo LGA of Imo State, HRH, Eze Iwuoha Augustine I.N. Korea (Nkume 11 of Ude Nkume), urged civil engineers to be well educated, trained, be aware and abreast of the rules and guidelines of civil structural engineering to enable the construction of standard structures, even as he felicitated with Engr. Prof. H.E. Opara over his deserved Investiture as Chairman of NICE, Owerri Chapter.