Abia makes soil tests mandatory for building approvals

By Steve Oko

UMUAHIA — In a move to curb building collapse and protect lives and property, the Abia State Government has made soil and geo-technical tests compulsory for all new building approvals in Umuahia, the state capital.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, announced the policy while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.

He said prospective developers must now obtain and present soil and geo-technical test certificates before building permits can be granted.

“Going forward, anyone seeking a building permit must present soil and geotechnical test certificates. This will ensure buildings are designed in line with soil compatibility, improve structural safety, prevent building collapse and protect lives and property,” Kanu said.

The decision comes amid growing concerns over recent incidents of building collapse in parts of Umuahia.

Speaking on the development, General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA, Mr Kingsley Agomuo, disclosed that investigations into the affected buildings had been concluded and that government would soon act on the findings.

He revealed that one of the collapsed buildings had been sealed since June 15, adding that its owners had earlier been directed to demolish the defective structure.

Agomuo further disclosed that another distressed building located on Crowther by Niger Road had been identified, while the owners had voluntarily commenced demolition following government intervention.
According to him, the UCDA has so far inspected about 10 distressed buildings across Umuahia and would continue conducting structural integrity assessments on other suspected structures.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, warned that the government would henceforth take a tougher stance against developers who violate building regulations.

“The government is going to become far more decisive. We are going to go harder on developers and property owners because when buildings collapse, government gets blamed,” he said.

Ekeoma dismissed concerns over the cost of obtaining building approvals, insisting that charges in Abia remain lower than those obtainable in many other states.

He explained that approval fees are determined by the nature and scale of individual projects and not fixed arbitrarily.

“The cost of compliance is insignificant when compared to the value of human lives and property being protected,” he added.

Meanwhile, the state government announced that Governor Alex Otti will on Wednesday commission the Umuomaiukwu Smart School in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.

Kanu described the facility, formerly known as Umuomaiukwu Community Primary School, as a flagship project under the state’s Smart School Initiative.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Kenechukwu Nwosu, enrolment at the school has increased by over 300 per cent since its transformation.

The facility features 10 smart classrooms equipped with interactive smart boards, multimedia teaching tools, digital learning devices, an ICT laboratory, solar power, CCTV surveillance, potable water and fire safety facilities.

Nwosu added that a dedicated girls’ room had been provided to support menstrual hygiene, while teachers assigned to the school had undergone specialised training in digital education.

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