Building Collapse: Wike Tasks Architects On Quacks

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, (right), being decorated with a title of ‘Governor General’ of the Ijaw Nation by the National President, Ijaw Women Connect (IWC), Comrade Rosemary Graham Naingba (middle), during a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, recently. With them is National Speaker, IWC, Comrade Vivian Bestman Elenwo

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has challenged Nigerian architects to take steps to weed out quack professionals to stem the tide of collapsed buildings.
Speaking when he received the Nigerian  Institute  of  Architects ,  Rivers State chapter at the Government House, Port Harcourt,  Governor  Wike  said  that there are cases of  collapsed  buildings in different  parts of  the  country because  of  the  input of fake architects.
He urged   the  Rivers State chapter of the  Nigerian Institute  of  Architects to work with other building  professionals  in the  state  to keep away  the deadly cases of  collapsed  buildings  from the  state.
The governor noted that aside the road infrastructure in a state, architectural masterpiece  is critical  to  development.
He said  that  government  is a continuum,  hence, there is no need to  abandon  projects because  they were initiated  by  previous  administrations.
“The problem we have in this country is that new administrations abandon existing projects to initiate fresh ones. As a result, government loses funds invested in these projects.
“For us, this administration will complete abandoned projects by the previous administration and also initiate new projects as we have done so far. We believe that the funds expended on these projects belong to the people of Rivers State and cannot be allowed to be wasted. “
A statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu added that Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom  Wike assured the architects that his administration will cooperate  with  them to deliver  on improved housing for the people.
He congratulated  the  Rivers  State  chapter  of  the  Nigerian Institute of Architects for producing  the  National  President  of  the  professional  body, adding that the state government  will  assist in the organisation  of the investiture  and inaugural dinner.
Earlier, the Rivers State Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Architect Dike Emmanuel commended Governor Wike’s  infrastructural  development.
He appealed to the Governor to face housing development after the road infrastructure,  noting that  good roads and architectural  masterpieces  make cities outstanding.