Abia State Mandates Soil Tests for Building Permits

The Abia State Government, led by Governor Alex Otti, has announced that henceforth, no building permits will be issued without the submission of mandatory soil and geotechnical test certificates. This directive was communicated by Okei Kanu during a press briefing following an executive council meeting.

The decision is a response to recent building collapses in the Umuahia and Aba areas, particularly a notable incident on July 17, 2026, involving a structure on Finbar Road. Kingslei Agomoh, the General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), revealed that several buildings in Umuahia have been identified with significant structural defects.

The government is also taking immediate action to address erosion issues in the Umuahia North community to prevent future disasters. The UCDA has been tasked with enforcing compliance to prevent further building collapses.