Rivers Govt to Establish Taskforce on Building Collapses 

In response to the growing issue of building collapses in Rivers State, the state government has announced plans to create a dedicated taskforce to tackle the problem and safeguard lives. This initiative comes after a recent incident where a three-storey building under construction collapsed on Abacha Road in Port Harcourt’s GRA.

Fortunately, no lives were lost in the latest collapse, which occurred just four days after another building collapse in the Ogbogoro Community of Obio-Akpor that claimed one life and left two severely injured.

Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, revealed the taskforce plan during an inspection of the recent collapse site. He explained that the taskforce will closely monitor all construction projects across the state to ensure strict compliance with established building laws and regulations. The aim is to prevent further incidents by holding developers accountable for construction standards.

Bipi criticized the developer involved in the recent collapse for using substandard materials and violating the approved building plan by constructing in a waterlogged area. He warned that defaulters of the state’s physical planning laws will face harsher penalties, intended to enforce adherence to regulations and discourage unsafe construction practices.

Dr. Samuel Eyiba, the Commissioner for Special Duties, also attended the site inspection and mentioned that the government is considering introducing stricter legal measures. These could include jail terms or heavy fines for non-compliant engineers and developers, aimed at deterring cost-cutting practices that compromise building safety.

Additionally, Surveyor Wisdom Hebron, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, expressed concern over the recurring use of substandard materials by some developers in an attempt to reduce costs, a practice he cited as a key factor in the spate of recent building collapses.