Rivers State Denies Approval for Collapsed Building

The Rivers State Government denied approving the building plan for a five-storey structure that collapsed along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, resulting in one fatality and three injuries. Dr. Edward Hart, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, described the incident as unfortunate and stressed the necessity for property development to adhere strictly to approved building plans.

He noted that the structure was initially approved as a three-storey hotel before being extended to five floors. Hart lamented that two buildings had collapsed in the state within one week, including a three-storey building in the Rumuelumeni area, which did not result in casualties.

The state government is intensifying efforts to monitor and clamp down on buildings erected without approval. Hart attributed the collapses to non-compliance with approved plans and the use of substandard materials by contractors.

He called for a review of the construction sector to ensure tighter control over the approval process and eliminate the use of quack contractors.