How Substandard Materials Brought Down Benin Two-Storey Building in Dead of Night

The Edo State Government has condemned the use of substandard materials in the construction of a two-storey building that collapsed while under construction in Benin City, describing the incident as a preventable disaster.

The building, located on Gospel Avenue, off Adesuwa Road in Oredo Local Government Area, caved in during the early hours of Thursday, prompting authorities to immediately seal off the site.

Speaking during an inspection of the collapsed structure, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Vincent Uwadiae, said preliminary findings revealed that the building was erected without government approval and with inferior construction materials.

Uwadiae expressed relief that no lives were lost in the incident.

“Let me first thank God that no worker was on site when the building collapsed. Had it occurred while workers were on site, the casualties could have been enormous,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the ministry had no record of any application or approval for the project, questioning how a developer could embark on a two-storey construction without obtaining the necessary permits.

“This building was not approved. There is no application before the ministry. We have continued to sensitise the public on the need to obtain approval so that developments can be properly monitored,” he added.

He further revealed that the reinforcement rods used for the project were of poor quality and incapable of supporting even a one-storey structure, let alone a two-storey building.

According to him, the building will remain sealed pending investigations, while efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the owner.

“The owner is nowhere to be found, and no workers are on site. The law will take its course. If the owner fails to present himself within the stipulated period, the government will take over the property in line with existing laws,” Uwadiae warned.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency (ESDBCA), Mr Darlington Igabali, said the collapse underscored the dangers of ignoring building regulations.

“The administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo has zero tolerance for irresponsible and substandard developments in the state,” he said.

Igabali noted that preliminary investigations pointed to the use of inferior materials and the absence of regulatory approval as the major causes of the collapse.

A resident of the area, Mr Jonathan Bitrus, said the building gave way at about 2:00 a.m. or 2:15 a.m.

He alleged that the foundation of the structure was too weak to support a two-storey building, a flaw he believed contributed to the collapse.

Government authorities have intensified monitoring of ongoing construction projects across the state to prevent similar incidents.