The government of Anambra State has found the spate of building collapses in the state worrisome and has issued directives to reduce building collapse in the state .

The Executive Chairman of Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB), Barrister Chike Maduekwe, disclosed this while briefing the press at the Board’s Headquarters in Amawbia, Awka, the state capital. Stating that he is acting on the Governor’s instruction, he said ,

‘When there is any building collapse, Governor Soludo calls me and says this constant building collapses in Anambra is embarrassing, please do something urgent about it.’

Speaking on the recertification of building permits, he said, ‘Effective immediately all permits for ongoing

construction projects are hereby suspended. All Developers must bring their approval documents for revalidation.

‘It must be made clear that we are not revoking all existing building permits, but revalidation them to be sure that the approval given is what the developer is building.

‘Because most De
velopers after obtaining building permit approval do not engage relevant professionals in the building industry, Anambra State Physical Planning Board will now audit and ensure that these professionals have been engaged in all on going constructions which is an already existing provisions of Building

regulation.’

He also noted that any development that commences without 7 days prior notice to ANSPPB, will be deemed illegal and is liable to be demolished and the developer will be made to face the full embrace of the law.

Speaking further, Barrister Maduekwe said, ‘During the audit, any buildings that are found to have structural integrity issues will be subjected to non destructive testing (NDT) by the Material Testing laboratory.

‘Soil investigation report are critical requirements for most constructions in Anambra State. All buildings above 2 floors must submit Geotechnical surveys, failing which there will be severe penalties.

‘Government will now hire Professional consultants to monitor construction s
ites statewide.

‘We shall intensify efforts on statutory stage inspections as well as signing of stage certification forms by relevant professionals. It is important to note that supervising professionals will be liable for any building failure or collapse not government staff.

‘Buildings under construction that has been abandoned for 5 years and above will need to be recertified before the recommencement of construction work on it to ascertain the structural stability of the building.

‘Government hereby directs that nobody shall be allowed to pass the night in any building undergoing construction and construction works must not go beyond 7:00pm every day.

‘Effective immediately, all developers will now be required to comply with the compulsory insurance Act of 2003 of Builders’liability and Public Liability

Insurance before they can be granted building permit approvals. The reason is to protect the workers and the public who work in the site and who come around the building site. The contractor who has
this insurance in place under the insurance act is protected from the legal liabilities arising from any damage to property, collapse, injury or death to any person arising from the Development / Construction.

‘Also all Professionals involved in any Development must present to ANSPPB their Professional Indemnity Insurance alongside the letter of undertaking before the building permit approval will be granted to the project they are supervising.’

The ANSPPB Chairman further stated that the second phase of these initiatives is ‘Operation Show Your Building Permit’ which takes effect from 1st of August to the 31st of October, 2024.

He said, ‘All property owners

with buildings that lack necessary approvals are required to regularize their building plans within this grace period. This amnesty period is an opportunity for compliance and to avoid penalties that may be imposed after the expiration of the grace period.’

Maduekwe urged Anambrarians to regularize their building plans by visiting the Anambra State P
hysical Planning Board for necessary documentation and procedures at the ANSPPB Headquarters, Old Government Station, Amawbia, Awka Capital Territory, Anambra State, as failure to comply with this directive after the stipulated period will result in appropriate sanctions.

He further advised them to contact Anambra State Physical Planning Board on these numbers 08062533672, 08033561344 or 08037835105, for enquiries.

Contributing at media briefing, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra Material Testing Laboratory( AMTL), Engineer Ebosie Ezeoke, noted Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s concern about the recent unfortunate incidents of building collapses in the state, stating that impunity is the core problem.

He said, ‘The major problem we have is impunity, there is obviously a lot of inferior materials in circulation particularly now with the economic crunch all over the place. We have dual responsibility in the system. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, generally takes responsibility
for imports and also regulation of standards, so we in the state have put measures in place to actually ensure there is full compliance.We will run some tests to ensure that the buildings have structural integrity to ensure safety.’

Source :News Agency of Nigeria