April 02, (THEWILL) – The Panel of Enquiry set up to look into the immediate and remote causes of the collapsed church building, off Ebi’s Mechanic Road as well as a partially collapsed two-story building in the OMPADEC Area, all in Amarata, Yenagoa, has submitted its report.
Speaking during the presentation of the report at the Conference Room of the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who also doubles as the Overseer of the Board, Alabo Ekeuwei, called on developers in the State to stop patronising quacks to avoid the collapse of their buildings.
Ekeuwei said, “It is always advisable to use professionals while carrying out any form of development to avoid further building collapse in the State.”
It would be recalled that the Panel of Enquiry into the collapse of the House of Assembly Church, off Ebi’s Mechanic Road as well as that of a partial collapse of a two-story building at the OMPADEC Area, all in Amarata, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the State, was set up on January 4, 2023.
Members of the Panel of Enquiry and the professional bodies they represent are, Engr. Tari Driyai, Nigerian Society of Engineers; Barr. Ben Brayi, Nigerian Barr Association Tpl; Julius Iyoroakpo, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners; Arc. Stella Rains, Nigerian Institute of Architects; Builder Samson Dagana, Nigerian Institute of Building; Mr. Sylvanus Sikpi, Nigeria Mining and Geosciences; and Surv. Etieniya Ozi, Nigerian Institute of Surveyors.
The terms of reference were to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the collapsed buildings, recommend appropriate measures to forestall future occurrence of building collapse in the State as well as recommend appropriate sanctions to the affected developers and any other recommendations deemed necessary in the planning and development of the State.
He commended the Panel for carrying out their assignment thoroughly and to have met up the deadline set out for it.
He assured that all the recommendations, as contained in the report, would be implemented to the letter, adding that the present administration of Governor Douye Diri is hinged on integrity and honesty.
Ekeuwei also commended Governor Diri for creating the enabling environment to enable the Panel of Enquiry to carry out their assignment and in a record time.
He said, “If other panels of enquiries were not implemented, this particular one would be implemented to set a record in the State.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Panel of Enquiry, Engr. Tari Diriyai, noted that developers should always consult the Board before carrying out any form of development in the State as well as use professionals to supervise their developments to avoid future occurrence of collapsed buildings in the State.
He commended the Board to have found them worthy for the assignment, pointing out that, in the cause of carrying out their assignment, they visited the sites for physical investigation, carried out soil, concrete and integrity tests on building elements as well studied drawings, documents and oral interrogations, amongst others.
