Delta Govt Seals 15 Buildings Over Non-adherence To Standard Procedures

The Delta State Government, has sealed off 15 buildings in Asaba, the state capital to reduce incidences of building collapse in the state.

The exercise intended to stem the tide of building collapse, protect the environment and ensure adherence to proper planning.

Chairman of the Delta State Taskforce on Operation Show Your Building Plan, Chidi Nwuko said that developers of the sealed buildings failed to tender approved building plans within the stipulated time given to them or had none at all.

Recall that a storey building under construction in Asaba recently collapsed, leaving one person dead and four critically injured.

Also, at Ughelli, a boy identified as Gbenga, who just finished his West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), was knocked down by a collapsing fence along Damure street in Ughelli, killing him instantly.

In Okpanam, Oshimili north local government area of the state, a firefighter, Ben Aladino and his family members narrowly escaped death in their apartment when a building and its overhead water tank collapsed on their living room.

The chairman urged property developers to abide by the laws, guiding property development to prevent building collapse.

“It became necessary to nip in the bud the recurrence of construction collapse that could have been as a result of lack of approved building plan.

“Some of the standard procedures in land and property development is to obtain approved building plan and permit, complying with approved building plan and documenting same with relevant authorities prior to development.

“Such compliance will help eliminate building or construction collapses capable of causing wanton damage and in extreme cases, lives,” he said.

Nwuko urged land and property developers embarking on any form of development to, as a matter of responsibility, adhere strictly to standard procedures.

While commending property developers who follow due process, he frowned at those who flagrantly disregard them, warning that the law would catch up with them.

Recall that a multi-billion-naira building initially intended to be a seven-storey suffered a partial collapse, fortunately there was no casualty while two buildings opposite Asaba Airport collapsed three years ago.

The state government faulted a construction company over the collapse of the multi-storey building along Okpanam road in the Asaba.

The Delta State Ministry of Urban Renewal, in conjunction with the Delta State Urban and Regional Planning Board, conducted a thorough investigation into the incidence and concluded that the construction company was culpable for the avoidable accident.

The ministry and the board initiated an inquiry to uncover the immediate and remote causes of the collapse.

In a report signed by the General Manager of the Urban and Regional Planning Board, Peter Amaduobogha, the investigative panel found the company liable for utilising substandard materials in raising the structure.

They also highlighted issues such as non-perpendicular alignment, lack of quality supervision and negligence in attending to minor details, both on the part of the builder and the Project Managers, including Enahoro Zedomi of Consultants Collaborative Partnerships.

Consequently, the panel recommended that the structure be cordoned off and subjected to comprehensive structural testing.