THE INCIDENCE OF BUILDING COLLAPSE AND EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

Umeora Chukwunonso Obiefuna

Bonspace Associates 159 Zik Avenue, Uwani Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria

E-mail: coumeora@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT The research investigates the causes of building collapse in Nigeria and proffers appropriate solutions. Also, an assessment of the magnitude of the disasters of building collapse is done. An evaluation of the existing capacities to prevent, annihilate and get ready for them is also carried out. Thus by providing necessary tools to provide a haven fit far man. The study is carried out with secondary data which were used to assess the scale of human causalities emanating from reported cases of building collapse in selected Nigerian cities between 1997-2009. The assessment, done with the aid of a model showed that building collapse has killed a good number of people in Nigeria. An appraisal was done, it revealed emergency management is still far-fetched in Nigeria, and different recommendations made which include raising the level of emergency management awareness of the Nigerian people