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JUST IN: Rivers Govt Orders The Arrest of Engineers of Collapsed Building
The Rivers State Government has ordered the immediate arrest of the construction engineer of a two-storey building that collapsed in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The building, which was located at Rumuoke Street, off Okilton junction, by Ada George Road, collapsed at about 11:00 a.m. local time. There were no reports of injuries or deaths.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, who announced the arrest order, said that an investigative panel has also been constituted to look into the immediate and remote cause of the building collapse.
“The government has ordered the immediate arrest of the construction engineer of the collapsed building for proper investigation,” Danagogo said in a statement. “The panel will also look into the immediate and remote cause of the collapse, as well as bring everyone culpable to book.”
Danagogo also warned professionals in the building sector to comply strictly with all necessary regulations. “The Rivers State Government will not condone any deviation from extant laws and regulations in the sector,” he said.
More so, the collapse of the building is the latest in a series of building collapses in Nigeria. In March, a two-storey building collapsed in Lagos, killing at least 20 people. And in January, a three-storey building collapsed in Abuja, killing at least 10 people.
The government has blamed the recent spate of building collapses on the use of substandard materials and poor construction practices. In response, the government has said that it will be cracking down on unlicensed builders and enforcing stricter building codes.
The collapse of the building in Port Harcourt has raised concerns about the safety of buildings in the state. The government has urged members of the public to report to the authorities any suspected unauthorized builders.