By Bonaventure Alufo
The Anambra State Government has announced plans to adopt stricter measures to curb incidents of building collapse, including recommending the forfeiture of lands where buildings collapse and pursuing criminal prosecution against those found negligent.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu, disclosed this on July 27 while inspecting the site of a three-storey building that collapsed in Amaokpala, near Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area(LGA).
Describing the incident as unfortunate, the commissioner said although building collapse is a national challenge, the Anambra State Government is determined to strengthen the enforcement of physical planning laws to protect lives and property.
“It is unfortunate. The menace of building collapse is not peculiar to Anambra State; it is a challenge across Nigeria. However, Anambra will respond with stricter enforcement measures,” he said.
Barr. Ojukwu revealed that the government would recommend the forfeiture of the land where the Amaokpala building collapsed as a deterrent to developers who violate the state’s physical planning regulations.
According to him, preliminary findings indicate that the building had shown signs of structural distress, yet the owners and managers allegedly continued to rent it out instead of evacuating the occupants.
“Our preliminary findings indicate that the building itself was distressed. Rather than vacate the occupants because its structural integrity had been compromised, the owners allegedly continued to prioritise financial gains over the safety of innocent residents,” he said.
The commissioner warned that the government would pursue all available legal options against anyone found culpable, including criminal prosecution for negligence.
He cautioned developers, builders and property owners to comply strictly with approved building regulations, stressing that only qualified and licensed professionals should be engaged in construction projects.
“It is no longer business as usual. Anyone intending to erect a building in Anambra State must comply with the law and engage only approved professionals. There will be no room for quackery in the building industry,” he noted.
Barr. Ojukwu disclosed that the state government intends to amend the physical planning law to make it mandatory for every construction site to prominently display the names and licence details of the professionals handling each project.
He added that the government would constitute an investigative panel comprising chairmen and secretaries of relevant professional bodies to determine the immediate and remote causes of the Amaokpala building collapse and establish whether negligence contributed to the incident.
According to him, the panel’s findings will guide further government action, including possible criminal prosecution where liability is established.
Bonaventure Alufo is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
