Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
Following recent collapsed building incidents in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Government has directed that henceforth, all site Engineers supervising building constructions in the state, are now required to sign an undertaking with the Rivers State Government with their passport photograph attached to the document.
Following recent collapsed building incidents in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Government has directed that henceforth, all site Engineers supervising building constructions in the state, are now required to sign an undertaking with the Rivers State Government with their passport photograph attached to the document.
Consequently, all building sites in the state, for both private and public properties, must display a notice board with names and addresses of owner of property, contractor, and other professionals engaged on site, as well as particulars of Insurance for workmen before commencement of construction work.
These were part of the resolutions reached today by the Rivers State Executive Council, at their meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt, as disclosed by the Information Commissioner, Mr. Magnus Abe who briefed Government House Correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.
Mr. Abe said the checklist for re-certification of building plans, and approval of new building plans have also been reviewed to include Certificate of Occupancy, or Deed of Conveyance with evidence of application for C of 0, Income Tax Clearance Certificate for individuals, and Certificate of Incorporation for Corporate bodies.
Others are soil test report prepared by qualified firms, name and address of Insurance Company for workman compensation amongst others, and assured developers that those who meet the pre- condition would have their documents revalidated within 72 hours, while those for new building plans would receive theirs within four weeks from date of application.
According to the Commissioner, "we believe that this would not only help in the process of supervision, but would also help in contacting the engineers in the event of poor quality of work on the building.
He explained that the State Executive Council appreciates the fact that the recent increase in the construction of buildings in the state is a further evidence of the phenomenal growth of the city, but however warned dubious individuals, against trying to cut corners in building constructions which has led to collapse incidents, emphasizing that government would do whatever is necessary to check the ugly situation.
He commended the State Emergency Response Team for their effective response to all the incidents, which ensured the rescue of more than eight persons alive in the recent collapse of a five-storey building under construction along Tombia Street extension, in Port Harcourt.
Meanwhile, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry has been set up to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the recent high-rise building collapse in Port Harcourt.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Magnus Abe disclosed this, while briefing newsmen shortly after the State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Mr. Abe said the Commission would be empowered to look into all issues arising from the spate of collapsed buildings in the state, noting that the result of the inquiry would help government proffer solutions to the problem.
He referred properly developers to crosscheck the reviewed re-certification checklist for approval of building plans which must be strictly complied with to check the spate of building collapse in Port Harcourt, pointing out that anyone who meets the pre-condition for re- certification would not wait for more than 72 hours before re-certification.
The Information Commissioner said the National Primary Education Productivity Merit Award bestowed on Dr Peter Odili, as the best Governor in the South-South in primary Education Development in Nigeria, underscores the importance attached to primary education in Rivers State.
According to Mr. Abe, the State Executive Council also congratulated the Governor for sponsoring the State Cultural Troupe and the Royal Male Choir to Sao Tome and Principe, recently during the country's democracy day celebration, where Mr. President alongside other African Heads of Government watched the Rivers State Troupe in concert.
He remarked that it was the first time that Nigeria was engaging in that level of cultural exchange programme for a long time, noting that the participation of River State helped in changing the image of Nigeria in Sao Tome-for which Nigerian are grateful to the State government.