The Edo State Government has condemned the use of substandard building materials following the collapse of a two-storey structure under construction at Gospel Avenue, off Adesuwa Road, in Oredo Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Vincent Uwadiae, who visited the site, ordered the immediate sealing of the property and warned developers against erecting buildings without obtaining the necessary approvals from the government.
Uwadiae expressed relief that no lives were lost in the incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning.
“Let me first thank God that no worker was on site when the building collapsed. Had the incident occurred during working hours, the casualties could have been enormous,” he said.
According to the commissioner, preliminary investigations revealed that the building was being constructed without official approval from the ministry.
“This building was not approved, and there is no application before the ministry. It is unacceptable for anyone to embark on a two-storey building project without obtaining the required approval,” he stated.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to public sensitisation on the importance of securing building permits, noting that approval processes enable authorities to monitor construction projects and prevent structural failures.
Uwadiae also faulted the quality of materials used for the project, particularly the reinforcement rods, describing them as inadequate for supporting a structure of such magnitude.
“The reinforcement rods used were of poor quality and could not support even a one-storey building, let alone a two-storey structure,” he said.
He added that the building would remain sealed pending further investigations and warned that the government could take over the property if the owner failed to present himself within the stipulated period as required by law.
Also speaking at the scene, the Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency (ESDBCA), Darlington Igabali, described the collapse as a preventable disaster.
He said the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards unsafe and substandard developments across the state.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the collapse resulted from the use of inferior materials. In addition, there was no approval for the building,” Igabali said.
A resident of the area, Jonathan Bitrus, said the building collapsed at about 2:00 a.m. and attributed the incident to a weak foundation that was incapable of supporting a two-storey structure.
The state government has vowed to identify and prosecute those responsible while intensifying efforts to enforce building regulations and ensure compliance with safety standards. :::
