By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abuja, Saturday, identified lapses in the institutional frameworks as key factors responsible for the building collapse at Odu-Igbo Market, Ochanja, Onitsha, Anambra State.
The NBRRI disclosed this in Awka, the Anambra State capital, while presenting the report of the first stage of the investigation led by Engr. Professor Akaolisa Ezeagu, the Chairman of 8-man panel constituted by the agency Director General, Professor Samson Duna.
Ezeagu, said that Duna charged the panel with the responsibility of finding out the remote and immediate cause of the building collapsed that occurred on 26th February, 2024, as well as proffering solutions.
Ezeagu, franked by other members of the team, said the conflicting reports of the State government, contractors and the traders on whether the project was approved or not and the victims of the collapsed building showed there was a failure of institutional framework.
According to him, the team was also amazed how the construction that commenced sometimes in December 2023 managed to reach 3rd floor with some section roofed before it finally collapsed in February, 2024, thereby making it the fastest to be constructed in the country.
He said they were also amazed that the government neither approved nor ensured that the building construction followed rules of engagement even when the site was in an open place just as the market traders who complained not been carried along probably did nothing to stop the work too.
"We have conducted forensic investigation over the collapsed building. We have collected the soil, concretes, reinforcement and other materials that can help us in the investigation. We have interacted with various stakeholders of the projects. We are moving to the second stage of the research. At the end, we will present our findings to be documented and gazetted by the federal government," he noted.
The team further urged the Anambra State to employ more professionals in the State Physical planning board as well as provide the board with operational vehicles so as to easily enable them carry out their findings across the 21 Local Government Areas.
Other members of the team were Arch. Leonard Okoro, Arch. Ikenna Onuorah, Builder Daniel Nwude Sec, Builder Ilechukwu Promise, Engr. Chidiebere A., Builder Kingsley Uhoro, and Professor A. Isaiah B.