Rivers Govt Gets Tough On Building Regulation, Vows To Seal Stuctures Without State’s Approval

The Rivers State Government has threatened to seal off all poorly-built structures without legal approvals across the state.

This warning comes against the backdrop of the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in the Abacha Road area of the new Government Reservation Area in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Friday.

The dire incident occured barely five days after another three-storey building under construction collapsed, resulting in one fatality and injuring two people in Ogbogoro Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Reacting to the development, Rivers State Government said it had set up a task force to address the rising issue of building collapses and the dangers these incidents pose to public safety.

The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Evans Bipi, disclosed this during an on-site inspection of the recent collapse along Abacha Road in the metropolis on Friday. He ordered the site to be sealed.

Bipi stated that the task force would monitor all construction sites in the state to ensure developers strictly comply with the state’s building laws and regulations, aiming to prevent further incidents.

He said, “I would advise all Rivers State residents who intend to build to visit the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to process their building plans and obtain the necessary approvals.

“The ministry will, of course, guide you on whether a three-storey or two-storey building is feasible. We have decided to establish a task force to ensure compliance with government laws and regulations concerning buildings.”