Rivers State authorities rejected blame for the five-storey building that collapsed on Odili Road in Port Harcourt this week. One person died in the disaster, while three others sustained injuries.
The structure was still under construction when it gave way on Wednesday. Workers were trapped in the rubble following the incident.
Dr Edward Hart, the state's Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, told journalists the building never received approval from the state government. He noted that the Federal Housing Authority had granted the original clearance instead.
According to Hart, developers had tampered with the approved design. What started as a three-storey hotel project was illegally expanded to five floors.
"The building plan was approved by the Federal Housing Authority," Hart explained to reporters in Port Harcourt. "But it didn't get approval from Rivers State."
Hart stressed a critical point to developers and builders. "When a building plan is approved, you must stick to it," he said.
Quality materials and qualified personnel matter just as much as design compliance. Without these three elements, Hart warned, structures will fail.
This wasn't an isolated incident in the state. Port Harcourt had witnessed another building collapse just days earlier in Rumuelumeni.
That three-storey structure came down without causing any deaths. Yet the pattern of failures alarmed state officials.
Hart announced plans to crack down on illegal construction sites across Rivers State. The government would intensify monitoring immediately.
In his words, authorities needed to "eliminate quacks and the use of substandard materials." Unqualified personnel on construction sites posed serious risks.
Hart acknowledged a persistent challenge facing the sector. Even when supervising engineers were present, some still used inferior materials to cut costs.
The commissioner called for urgent reforms in civil construction practices. His ministry would strengthen ties with professional bodies overseeing building projects.
Tighter control of the approval process became necessary, Hart insisted. Close and regular supervision by the ministry would follow.
The recent collapses underscored deep problems within Nigeria's construction industry. Collaboration between government and professionals could help reverse the trend.
Hart's position was clear: developers must follow approved plans exactly. Anything less would endanger lives and property across Port Harcourt.
