Ensuring Structural Integrity in Rivers State: A Data-Driven Approach to Public Safety

Overview: This study investigates the use of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to evaluate the safety and failure rates of concrete structures across the Port-Harcourt metropolis. Amidst a backdrop of frequent building collapses and rising material costs, the research provides a critical framework for identifying structural risks before catastrophic failure occurs.

The Challenge: Economic pressures, including naira devaluation and subsidy removals, have led to inflated building material costs. This has incentivized "cutting corners," resulting in substandard construction practices that compromise the safety of residential and commercial buildings.

Methodology: The research utilized a dual-test NDT approach, combining Schmidt Rebound Hammer (RH) and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) tests. A total of 400 diverse structures were sampled across Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, and Port-Harcourt city LGAs, including residential homes, commercial complexes, and public flyovers.

Key Findings

The Safety Gap: A stark disparity exists between regulated public infrastructure (flyovers) and private buildings. 100% of flyover samples were rated as "Low" or "Very Low" risk, while 37.1% of residential buildings fell into "High" or "Critical" risk categories.

Alarming Strengths: Compressive strengths varied wildly from a dangerous 10 MPa (unfit for structural use) to over 70 MPa.

Newly Built Risks: Many of the most hazardous structures were newly constructed, proving that structural failure is an ongoing crisis rather than a legacy issue.

Conclusion: The integrated NDT approach is a proven tool for early risk identification, offering a reliable path toward mandatory quality assurance and urban resilience. The assessment was carried out by Clev Dynamic Inspections Ltd, a subsidiary of Clev Group of Companies Ltd.