The government of Rivers State has officially closed off a construction site in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, where a three-storey structure fell down on Monday evening. Amairigha Edward-Hart, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, visited the location to evaluate the situation and identify why the collapse happened.
Commissioner Edward-Hart suggested that the failure likely resulted from poor engineering, low-quality construction supplies, or a disregard for established building codes. He emphasized that the state would increase oversight of construction projects to guarantee that developers follow safety standards. The ministry is maintaining a presence at the site to prevent further work.
As of now, the owner of the project has not been located, making it impossible to confirm if the construction was legally authorized. Edward-Hart issued a firm warning that those building without permits would face legal consequences. No one was present at the site when officials arrived, and fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
Belema Ekine, who leads the Nigerian Society of Engineers, labeled the event tragic. He stated that his organization intends to launch an independent probe into the collapse and will push for penalties against any parties found responsible.
