Imo/Abia NEMA boss advocates strict measures to check incessant building collapse in Nigeria

Mr Evans Ugoh, the Head of Imo/Abia Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called for strict measures to check incessant building collapse in the country.

Ugoh made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Oweeri on Thursday, shortly after visiting the scene of a collapsed building in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia.

He said that two persons were confirmed dead in the incident, while 10 others reportedly sustained injuries.

He blamed the ugly phenomenon in the country on poor monitoring and enforcement of standards by regulatory agencies.
Ugoh also alleged compromise on the part of the regulatory agencies, saying that the agencies should rise to the challenge in order to permanently check the trend.

He said: “The regulatory agencies are not doing enough in the area of project monitoring and enforcement of standard.
“Builders bribe their way into getting approval without being strictly monitored, leading to compromise in standard.”

The NEMA boss, therefore, urged regulatory agencies to discharge their mandate conscientiously by ensuring effective monitoring of projects.
He further called for the arrest and prosecution of importers of substandard building materials.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at least seven buildings had reportedly collapsed in different parts of the country in the past two weeks with at least 20 dead and 35 injured. (NAN)