By Evelyn Unuigbe
Edo State Development and Building Control Agency has sealed up a building located at number 48, Ogunrobo Street off Newton Street, Ekosodin Community in Ovia South-West Local Government Area in Benin City, due to a gas explosion leading to the partial collapse of the building.
The Managing Director, Edo State Development and Building Control Agency Hon. Igabali Imoisili Darlington who got a distress call cocerning the gas explosion which led to the damage of the building where two students were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries quickly mobilized his Team led by Town Planner (TPL) Henry Enabulele to the scene for an “on the spot” assessment.
According to Mr. Enabulele, “the partial collapse of the building is as a result of a gas explosion and from all indications, it is obvious that the house is no longer habitable, hence the need for the residents to quit the building”.
He added that the building was already a disaster in waiting because there were cracks on the wall which indicated that the building was seriously distressed.
The Director who affirmed that experts would be called upon to assess the building to ascertain the level of damage before actions would be taken, advised against the use of the building for the time being, ordering it to be sealed till further notice.
On his part, Director, Department of Urban Renewal, TPL Musa Daudu explained that it was very rare for a building to collapse as a result of gas explosion but the building clearly had a weak structure, hence the colossal damage.
Meanwhile, the Director, Department of Planning Permit, TPL Nosa Asemota, who sympathized with the victims, advised prospective developers to seek the advice of Professionals before embarking on building projects to avoid future damages of a like nature.
Responding, the caretaker of the house, Mrs. Victoria Ekong Achibong explained that she was in her shop beside the building when she heard a loud sound and suddenly the roof of her shop went off and a part of the building came crashing down.
The two students who sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment in a nearby hospital.
