FG Investigates Collapsed 7-Storey Structure Under Construction in Delta

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

A six-man team comprising building experts from the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), has commenced investigation to unravel the cause of a collapsed portion of a seven-storey building under construction in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The NBRRI team, led by Akaolisa Ezeagu, had met with officials from the Delta State Ministry of Urban Renewal as well as the state Ministry of Housing, THISDAY learnt on arrival in Asaba.

The team, acting on the directive of the Director-General of NBRRI, Prof. Samson Dunia, included other members, including Kingsley Oghoro, Ikenna Onuorah, Chidiebere Afamefuna, Wan Igwe Daniel and Leonard Okolo (South-East zonal coordinator of NBRRI).

Although, no death was recorded when a portion of the first-floor level of the gigantic building, which is believed to be a five-star hotel under construction, caved in on September 14, 2023, several persons reportedly sustained injuries following the incident.

Nonetheless, numerous Asaba residents have raised eyebrows about the choice of the Inter Bau Flyover bridge site of the gigantic edifice within the Asaba CBD.

However, speaking with newsmen in Asaba on yesterday, leader of the team, Mr. Ezeagu, revealed preliminary investigation has been conducted by the NBRRI, adding that the team was still awaiting go-ahead from appropriate state authorities for a full-scale investigation into the incident.

Ezeagu said, “We have done a scientific prima-facie assessment of the collapsed section of the building and equally had a prima facie survey of the whole structure.

“We thank the state government for the preliminary access to the team, and urge them to grant us full access to the site to run a full-scale investigation.

“We believe that our expert reviews and findings as a research institute with the core mandate of research on critical infrastructure, in this case, the hospitality industry, will help government, the client and all agencies to forestall future occurrence not only on this but in other subsequent projects,” he said.

According to him, the team applied to the ministry for access to the building, approval was being delayed apparently for civil service bureaucracy.

“Now, we want to go into full-scale investigation, which must be documented. We have applied and waiting for approval. We learnt that the commissioner is out of the state for official assignment. Hopefully by next week, we will get the documented approval,” Ezeagu stated.

NBRRI, a Federal Government research based agency, is under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. It was established in 1977 by an Act which was amended the following year.

Its core mandate is to carry out comprehensive and forensic investigation on collapsed critical infrastructure across the country.

It is the third time NBRRI would be in the state on similar mission, it was further gathered.