The Edo State Government has strongly condemned the use of substandard building materials following the sudden collapse of a two-storey structure still under construction at Gospel Avenue, off Adesuwa Road in Oredo Local Government Area.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Vincent Uwadiae, led officials to the scene and immediately ordered the sealing of the site. He issued a stern warning to developers and property owners against erecting buildings without proper approvals or using inferior construction materials.
Speaking on location, Uwadiae expressed relief that no casualties occurred. “We are grateful to God that no workers were present at the site when the building gave way,” he said. “If the incident had happened during working hours, the consequences could have been devastating.”
The Commissioner revealed that the building had no official approval from the ministry. “There was no application whatsoever before the ministry for this project. It is unacceptable for anyone to embark on a two-storey building without securing the necessary permits,” he stated.
Uwadiae noted that the ministry has consistently educated the public on the importance of obtaining building approvals, which allow for proper monitoring and quality control. He urged residents to report suspicious or unapproved construction activities in their neighborhoods.
“The owner of this property is currently not traceable, and no workers were found on site. The building will remain sealed while investigations continue. Once the owner is identified, the full weight of the law will be applied,” he added.
According to preliminary observations, the collapse was caused by extremely poor-quality reinforcement rods that were too weak even for a single-storey structure. The Commissioner warned that failure by the owner to come forward within the stipulated time could result in the government taking over the property under relevant laws.
The Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency (ESDBCA), Mr. Darlington Igabali, described the collapse as a completely preventable disaster. He emphasized that the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration maintains zero tolerance for irresponsible and substandard construction across the state.
“Preliminary findings clearly point to the use of inferior materials and the complete absence of building approval,” Igabali stated.
A resident in the area, Mr. Jonathan Bitrus, confirmed the building collapsed around 2:00 a.m. to 2:15 a.m. He noted that the foundation appeared inadequate to support the weight of a two-storey structure.