Abstract
Multiple events of building collapse from heavy rains and rising temperature are recorded each year and predicted to rise in the future. Therefore, this study examined the influence of meteorological parameters such as rainfall and temperature on building collapse in the Niger Delta region. The ex post facto research was adopted in this study.Meteorological data (rainfall and temperature) were sourced from the archives of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for a period of 41 years whereas information on building collapse was obtained from the records of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Descriptive statistics, statistical diagrams and tables were used to present the data. A kendall tau-b correlation was performed to determine the relationship between time (years) and the meteorological parameters (rainfall and temperature) across the sampled locations in the Niger Delta region and also to point out the trends in the data sets. The results show a positive correlation between time (years) and rainfall in Akure (tb=.254, p= .018), Benin (tb=.082, p= .795), Warri (tb=.028, p= .795), Yenagoa (tb=.119, p= .269), Port Harcourt (tb=.112, p= .298), Uyo (tb=.030, p= .778), Calabar (tb=.030, p= .778), Owerri (tb=.121, p=.260), and Umuahia (tb=.200, p= .062). These correlations were only significant in Akure at p<0.05 implying an increase in rainfall trend and an inverse trend in other locations in the region.Also, a positive correlation between time (years) and temperature was revealed in Akure (tb=.322, p= .003), Benin (tb=.490, p= .000), Warri (tb=.553, p= .000), Yenagoa (tb=.585, p= .000), Port Harcourt (tb=.596, p= .000), Uyo (tb=.665, p= .000), Calabar (tb=.665, p= .000), Owerri (tb=.582, p= .000), and Umuahia (tb=.610, p= .000) and they were all significant at p<0.05implying that temperature rises concomitantly as the years progresses in the region. Consequently, mandatory design of building plans capturing trees planting and green landscape, use of climate resilient materials in building construction, enactment and enforcement of climate policies in relation to building health, stability and safety were recommended.