International Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
p-ISSN: 2326-1080 e-ISSN: 2326-1102
2013; 2(3): 39-45
doi:10.5923/j.ijcem.20130203.01
Adedeji Joseph Adeniran
Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
Correspondence to: Adedeji Joseph Adeniran, Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
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Copyright © 2012 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
The age-less interaction between man and his built environment has always had positive and negative impacts on the two. Environmental disaster of varying origin from man-made to natural is one of the most negative effects of the built environment on man. An assessment of the magnitude of these disasters and an evaluation of the existing capacities to prevent, mitigate or prepare for them are necessary tools to provide future safe living for man in his built environment. Building collapse established to be caused by many factors is one of such disasters wielding its great impact of loss of lives and properties on man. This study assessed the scale of human casualties from reported cases of building collapse in some selected Nigerian cities for twenty years between 1990 and 2009. The study was carried out by relying on printed and web sources to gather the required data. Descriptive analysis of the data shows that the “monster” called building collapse killed more people in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt which may not be unconnected with the high-rise buildings which are the common sights in these cities. The factors responsible for the high incidence of loss and their management inputs were assessed with a mathematical model. After an appraisal of the effectiveness of the emergency management outfits in Nigeria, the study concludes with necessary recommendations.
Keywords: Environmental Management, Building Collapse, Disaster, Nigeria, NEMA
Cite this paper: Adedeji Joseph Adeniran, Environmental Disasters and Management: Case Study of Building Collapse in Nigeria, International Journal of Construction Engineering and Management , Vol. 2 No. 3, 2013, pp. 39-45. doi: 10.5923/j.ijcem.20130203.01.
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