The Ondo State Government has reinvigorated measures to prevent building collapse in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Lands and Infrastructure, Raimi Aminu, an engineer, made this known while fielding questions from journalists on the incessant building collapse recorded in some parts of the country.
According to him, the ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Physical and Urban Development had been strengthened to monitor compliance of builders with approved specifications in building designs.
He pointed out that one of the criteria for granting building approval was that the proposed building design must be stamped by a competent engineer after which the ministry would check for conformity with specifications.
Aminu added that such approval would be granted with a provision that qualified professionals must supervise it.
While noting that collapsed building was not the only form of disaster resulting from non-compliance with building specifications, he said the state government has also put a task force in place to monitor electrical installations during and after constructions to forestall fire outbreaks.
The Commissioner said Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had approved that fitness or integrity tests be conducted on buildings in the state and occupants of buildings found inhabitable would be evacuated.
“We are to constitute a task force and specified that after granting approval, our ministry must participate in the supervision at no cost to the client. Randomly, we will be checking those sites to ensure they comply with the specification and requirement in the approval granted.
“In addition, government has just put up a unit in Ondo State Electricity Board (OSEB) on fire outbreak. Some fire outbreaks are caused due to poor electrification systems or the use of sub-standard materials.”
He explained further that “during construction of any property, that the board will be visiting the sites to check the type of cable they use during construction and after construction.”
“Recently, we recommended to the governor, which he graciously approved that fitness/integrity test on any suspected buildings, especially the old ones,” he said.
Aminu expressed optimism that with all the measures in place, Ondo State would not have such an ugly occurrence, with a call on the builders to ensure compliance with stipulated specifications.
source: guardian ng
