When will professional bodies hold people accountable for killing Nigerians as a result of sharp practices and negligence?
IN recent times, Lagos State has become the flashpoint of building collapse and each time it happens, it leaves much death toll and pains in it’s wake. Worst still, nothing tangible is being done about it to bring those responsible to justice. In September 2014, a building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All National (SCOAN) collapsed killing dozens of worshippers and different persons, including nationals of other countries. That incident created a bad national and international bad image for Nigeria.
Several reasons were attributed to why the building fell down. The church’s official statement or position was that, it was a terrorist attack because, in it’s explanation, a mystery aircraft had hovered around the church thereby causing a vibration. Last year, specifically on November 21, a 21 storey luxury building at the prestigious location area in Ikoyi, Lagos, collapsed while still under construction. More than 40 persons reportedly died, that is aside the number of persons that sustained varying degrees of injury. Last Saturday, another building, a three-storey, at No. 16, Akanbi Crescent, off Adesina Street, Harvey, Yaba, collapsed. So far, five persons have been confirmed death.
In all of these and several other unreported cases, as well as other cases across the states of the federation, there is hardly any deserving punishment for those responsible for the killing of innocent persons by those who compromise professional ethics and standards. What of those who sold inferior building materials?
The president of COREN, Ali Rabiu, recently assured that the body would ensure that, “if there is any engineer or any engineering practitioner involved in this collapse”, such practitioners would be sanctioned in accordance with the law. He also added that, “And, where they are not practitioners and they are found involved, we will ensure that we prosecute them in the court of competent jurisdiction”.
The country has heard such assurance too many times without corresponding action while many people keep dying. When will professional bodies hold people accountable for killing Nigerians as a result of sharp practices and negligence?