Abia State government has initiated measures to curb building collapses as it reforms the land and housing sectors.
This is a sequel to the recent collapse of two uncompleted buildings in the state capital, Umuahia, and Aba, the commercial hub, which recorded no loss of lives.
Speaking to the media after a state executive council meeting in the capital city, the information commissioner, Okey Kanu, described the Umuahia incident as unfortunate.
Last week, an uncompleted three-storey detached building collapsed somewhere around the Low-Cost Housing Estate area of Umuahia.
”Though the government approved the building, a thorough investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the collapse, and the result will be made public,” he said.
The commissioner, who expressed joy that there was no fatality in the incident, added that the police have arrested the site engineer to assist in the investigation.
The general manager of Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Kingsley Agomuo, shed more light on the initiatives, saying that an integrity test would be conducted on every building with two floors or more.
He said, “This is to assure every citizen that the places you are staying are fully protected, and such incidents (building collapses) will not recur going forward.
”Every new and already constructed will be subjected to an integrity test. If you are constructing a new one, it is believed that it has been properly supervised.
”The government has zero tolerance for professional misconduct, and the government will do everything possible to ensure that the lives of the citizens in this state are protected.
