ARCON to meet Unilag VC over collapsed seven-storey building

Poised to get first-hand information on the incident, the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) will today visit the partially collapsed on-going building project domicile in the heart of University of Lagos (UNILAG).The project, which experienced the partial collapse is a seven-storey project, is being proposed as new library.It is located beside the Unilag bookshop, adjacent to Mariere Hall and a stone throw from the Senate Building.
   
While the construction was on-going, part of the building collapsed though no life was lost.The chairman of ARCON, Sir Dipo Ajayi, who visited the site last week with members of the Council , said the visit was for proper assessment of the site as they could not carried out their jobs because the Chairman of Council University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin was not notified.

At the last visit, the ARCON team was escorted to the site by the new Director of Works, Babatunde Oloko, for a visual inspection of the collapsed portion of the building, from outside the site perimeter hoarding.The site was sealed off at the order of the council and the entire team then agreedy for another visit to site on Monday , by which time, contact would have been made with the Chairman of Council, Mr Wale Babalakin for access into the building.

But Ajayi, alongside with ARCON’s members including Kayode Anibaba, Adebayo Dipe and Ladipo Lewis, met with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olutoyin Ogundipe, who briefed ARCON’s members on the incident.Briefing the Council, the VC said  that immediately the collapse occurred the site was sealed off, and there was no loss of life in the accident.
 
According to Ogundipe, following the incident, the Chairman of Council University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin has been notified and he is taking charge of further actions on the project and investigations.Findings revealed that ATO Architects, Architects; Landmark, structural engineers; Tuber Consult, quantity surveyors; IFC, mechnical and electrical; CPMS, project manager and Dutum Company Limited, main contractor were the consultants on the project.

Ogundipe stated that the Federal Executive Council under Tetfund awarded the contract, adding that it was a fixed contract with counterpart funding from Unilag.

The VC notified the panel of his observations of the contractor and his inadequacies, and slow pace of work on the project.Questions posed by the ARCON president are if the consultants on the project were all registered consultants, with the project having APRN registration.

The President also asked about the tests, reports and approvals at various stages of construction, the Vice Chancellor noted these are given to the Director of works.The issue of soil test and foundation design was raised with reference to what type, pilling or raft.
The ARCON President asked if the project had approval, stressing that Unilag staff in the procurement and supervision of the contract.
It was mentioned by the VC that the collapse occurred during casting at midday, and requested for another visit next week to the site, as they were not prepared for the team and he will need to notify the Chairman of Council.

A panel by the University has been setup to carry out an investigation on the collapse, ARCON President requested that Dipe an ARCON Council member be part of the panel.