…as Anambra Assembly Speaker directs House Committee on Housing to step up to ensure the motion is being enforced.
The iNews Times reports that the Anambra State House of Assembly has asked Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to initiate comprehensive check and monitoring of Damp-proofing of structures during design, approval, construction and maintenance of structures in the State to avoid growth of mycotoxins in structures especially buildings.
The Assembly passed the resolution on Tuesday following a motion sponsored by the member representing Orumba South constituency, Engr Emma Nwafor and 28 others during plenary in Awka, charging the Governor to implement the motion through the Commissioners for Works and infrastructure; Housing; MD Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) and Chairman, Anambra State Physical Planning Board.
Engr Nwafor who is the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Works, described Mycotoxins as products of fungi generated from Moisture, Dampness and Capillary (MDC) menace in buildings/structures; which according to him, contribute to about 50% of building collapse and structural integrity failures in buildings/structures in Nigeria particularly Anambra State.
He noted that mycotoxins which inhabit in MDC infested buildings and structures, causes about 25% of diseases including lung cancer, attacking human and livestocks as well as devaluing cash crops stored in affected buildings in the country before international market.
Engr Nwafor observed that mycotoxins when treated or prevented in Dampproof Course (DPC) during construction, can prevent structural integrity failures in buildingstthe cause of 50% of structural failures because of this capillary rise (water rise), the steel tends to corrode.
“There is need to stop this capillary actions. Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN) have ascertained some products to protect this capillary rise. The Ministry of Housing in it’s own capacity can check the market and choose the best of all, and effect it in the ACTDA and Physical Planning Board during their approvals and approval of drawings.
“At the same time, there must be checks and monitoring in erecting a building and maintaining already existing ones. This capillary action need to stop for effective management of our health and effective management of our structures,” Engr Nwafor concluded.
Supporting the motion, the Majority Leader, Hon Ikenna Ofodeme representing Ekwusigo Constituency, stressed the importance of the motion and its health aspect to mankind in relations to cancer prevention.
According to him, when people see such growth in old inhabited houses, there is need for urgent repair to save lives.
For Hon Tony Mobike of Aguata 2 constituency, described Damp-proofing as the use of plastic materials like nylons to ensure that during foundation of the building that it is protected at the DPC stage against moisture penetrating from the ground upwards.
Ruling on the motion, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Somtochukwu Udeze described the motion as apt, stressing the need to consider the concrete mixture used in the DPC and the type of sand used for filling; apart from using plastic nylon to cover the ground.
“The House of Assembly Committee on Housing should step up to ensure that the motion is being enforced.”
