(VOICE OF NAIJA)- There is yet another collapse of a two-storey building under construction at the Egbelu Mgbaraja axis of Ogbogoro Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
This comes barely one week after the collapse of a three-storey building at the Iriebe axis of the same LGA. No life was lost in that incident however.
An eyewitness, Jonathan Obey, told newsmen the building caved-in on Monday around 2pm when contractors were working on the second floor, killing one of the workers. Another worker narrowly escaped death with severe injuries.
Rivers State Government has sealed the premises and declared the property developer Vincent Nwoye wanted over the incident.
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The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Evans Bipi was at the site On Tuesday to assess the premises.
The former Assembly lawmaker accused the developer of gross negligence and default of the extant building laws and regulations of the State.
He cited the failure of the property developer to obtain government-approved building plan and the use of substandard materials as responsible for the collapse of the building collapse.
“We have repeatedly warned that if you are caught building without government-approved building plan, you will certainly face the penalty.
“The overnment has sealed this property in question and declared the owner wanted because a life has been lost, we need to question him to know why he chose to use substandard materials to execute the project, on why he decided to use 12mm rod for a two-storey building.
“It would interest the public to know that even the property does not have government approval, it is something the government will not take lightly, we will use this developer as a scapegoat for others to learn“.