Structural Defects:Benue Gov issues strong warning to the built industry
By Bridget Ikyado
The Governor of Benue State, Fr Hyacinth Alia, has issued a strong warning to the built industry, saying his administration will not tolerate the use of substandard building materials or quacks to cause
havoc in the state.
He gave the warning when he Inspected the site where a building collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday in Makurdi.
The affected building was a Dunamis International gospel church in North Bank, which left the resident pastor dead and three others who escaped injured.
Speaking when he visited the site, the Governor expressed dismay at the level of unprofessionalism displayed at the collapsed building site.
He also said the building was poorly constructed and would be revoked.
“I expect that anyone putting up a structure should know the law.
“We have to locate where the leadership of the church is and to inform them that the land has been revoked because we have to save lives.
“Those living along the waterways should vacate immediately.
“So the Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development should step in.
“I need to know who approved this structure. We need to know the engineers or the architects ,builders,who monitored this gigantic project, without specifications as spelt out by COREN.
“We need to stop these from happening.”he said.
Governor Alia who was dissatisfied with the manner the church was structured and built to finishing, wondering why such big structure was raised without proper concrete pillars to hold it.
He instructed the commissioners of Land and Survey, Urban and Rural Development, and Works and Housing to swiftly investigate and find out how the land was acquired and the contractor who built the church.
The Governor sympathized with members of the church and prayed to God to have mercy and grant the pastor who died a place of rest in heaven.
There was no member of the church in sight to explain what happened, however, Governor Alia warned that no one should go near the structure which other side is still hanging loosely waiting to collapse again anytime.
The Governor also paid a visit to the Benue State Water Board and the Benue State Geographic Information Service Center (BENGIS) all in Makurdi and assessed the level of operations at the two places