Building Collapse in Edo Raises Regulatory Concerns

A two-storey building located on Gospel Avenue off Adesuwa Road in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State, collapsed early on Thursday, raising significant concerns regarding building standards and regulatory compliance. Jonathan Bitru attributed the collapse to a weak foundation that could not support the structure.

Fortunately, no workers were on-site during the incident, which occurred around 2:00 PM. Vincent Uwadia, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, visited the site and condemned the use of substandard construction materials.

He stressed the importance of obtaining necessary approvals before erecting buildings. The building was reportedly constructed without the required approvals, and the owner has not yet been identified.

Darlington Igabali, Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, noted that preliminary inspections indicated the use of inferior materials. This incident follows another recent collapse of a church building undergoing renovations in the area, highlighting ongoing issues with compliance in construction practices.