By MONDAY AJOGUN

The Edo Government has condemned use of substandard materials for a two-storey building that collapsed under construction at Gospel Avenue, off Adesuwa Road, Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Vincent Uwadiae, ordered sealing of the building and warned developers against using inferior materials and erecting structures without necessary approvals.

Speaking at the site of the incident, Uwadiae expressed gratitude that no lives were lost in the incident.

“Let me first thank God that no worker was on site when the building collapsed. Had it occurred while workers were on site, the casualties could have been enormous.

“This building was not approved, there is no application before the ministry. How can someone erect a two-storey building without obtaining the required approvals?

“We have continued to educate members of the public on the need to secure building approval so that the ministry can monitor developments.

“Although we cannot be everywhere, residents in the area should have drawn our attention to the project so that appropriate action could have been taken.

“The building will remain sealed for now. The owner is nowhere to be found, and no workers are on site. The law will take its course, and necessary action will be taken once the actual owner of the property is identified,” he said.

The commissioner pointed that the reinforcement rods used in construction were of poor quality and could not support a one-storey building, let alone a two-storey structure.

He added that if the owner failed to present himself for investigation within the stipulated period, the government would take over the property in accordance with relevant laws.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency (ESDBCA), Mr Darlington Igabali described the incident as a preventable disaster.

“The Gov. Monday Okpebholo led administration has zero tolerance for irresponsible and substandard construction in Edo.

“Preliminary findings indicated that the collapse resulted from the use of inferior materials. In addition, there was no approval for the building,” he said.

A resident, Mr Jonathan Bitrus, said the building collapsed at about 2:00 a.m. or 2:15 a.m., noting that the foundation of the structure was not strong enough to support a two-storey building. (NAN)