Abia State Government said it has made soil and geotechnical testing a prerequisite for issuance of building permits in the state capital of Umuahia.

This is even as the second smart school built in the state will on Wednesday be commissioned at Umuomaiukwu community in Isiala Ngwa North LGA of the state.

These were disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu while addressing newsmen in Umuahia.

He said the decision taken at this week’s Exco meeting will ensure that all building developers must present soil and geotechnical test certificates before they are granted approval to construct their buildings.

“Going forward, if you must obtain a building permit, you must have a soil test and geotechnical test certificate.

“This is to ensure that going forward, buildings are designed and built in line with soil capabilities and constructed on verified and strong foundations to improve structural safety, prevent building collapse and protect lives and property”.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma said henceforth government would become far more decisive than it has ever been in ensuring standardization of building constructions.

“The government is going to go harder on developers and house owners, so help us to put the pressure on those who ignore government guidelines, before resorting to the construction of their buildings. Please help us put pressure on them, because the government is going to be acting more decisively than it has ever done.

“So you need to collaborate with the government to call on those, whether they are politicians or whatever, to adhere to government guidelines before embarking on any kind of construction”.

Meanwhile, the second smart school built in the state will on Wednesday be commissioned at Umuomaiukwu community in Isiala Ngwa North LGA of the state by Governor Alex Otti.

Making this known, Kanu noted that the Umuomaiukwu Community Primary School was formerly a conventional public school that has been transformed into one of the flagship smart schools under the state’s smart school initiative.

He said that the project represents another milestone achievement in the state’s commitment to improving basic education in the state through innovation, technology and world -class learning infrastructure.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, described the smart school at Umuomaiukwu as one of the flagship projects under the state’s smart school initiative.

Nwosu disclosed that the school is now a ten fully equipped smart classrooms featuring interactive smart boards, multimedia teaching tools, learning management systems, teachers’ workstations and digital learning devices for pupils.

He disclosed that the school also boasts a modern ICT laboratory, a multipurpose hall, off-grid solar power, potable water, fire safety facilities and 24-hour CCTV surveillance to provide a secure and technology-driven learning environment.

He informed that teachers posted to the school had undergone three phases of intensive capacity-building programmes to prepare them for technology-driven teaching. (The Sun)