Probe Building Collapse In Rivers -NIOB

Barely four months after a three-storey building collapsed at East-West Road axis of Port Harcourt, another building at Golden Valley Estate, Woji community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, has collapsed.
The building, said to be under construction, is situated at No 6, Unity Close, Golden Valley Estate in  Woji area.
The Tide reporter, who visited the site of the collapsed building, reports that the building gave way at about 5pm during the evening rains, but no casualties were recorded.
An eyewitness told The Tide that the security man, at the premises was lucky as the building collapsed few minutes after he left to purchase some items.
Sources also hinted that children, who were playing at a nearby building, were also lucky as they quickly made their way to their houses when the building caved in.
A resident nearby, who spoke to The Tide said workers had concluded work on the structure, last Thursday, and left.
The resident added that soon after, neighbours began hearing some noise, which led to the collapse of the build.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Akin Bammake, who visited the site of the collapsed building with some members of the institute, described the incident as unfortunate.
He alleged that the building collapsed because of lack of engagement of professionals in the  building construction.
Bammake urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to review the existing building code, which he argued, was already obsolete.
The building expert further urged the Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning to commence implementation of building control by ensuring that professionals and right materials are used in construction activities.
According to him, “the NIOB has submitted a bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly for the review of the Physical Planning Law”, adding that “buildings do not collapse on paper’.
“Building Control is lacking in Rivers State. There are things that are lacking and should be improved upon in the approval process, hence, we want the existing law to be reviewed’’, he said.
He urged the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning to always visit construction sites and closely monitor every building process while ensuring that professionals are on site.
“For any construction or building site, a professional should be on site and a registered builder must handle the work,” he added.
The Tide learnt that the owner of the building may be on the run as she has not reported to the site after the incident.