The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has blamed the developer of the collapsed building along Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for allegedly violating approved construction plans by adding an extra floor to the structure.
The authority made the disclosure during an inspection of the collapse site led by the Executive Director of Project Implementation, Oluremi Omowaiye, alongside officials of the agency and the Rivers State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Edward Hart.
According to Omowaiye, the building approval granted by the FHA on February 20, 2024, was strictly for a three-storey structure based on the submitted architectural and structural drawings. He alleged that the developer disregarded the approval and proceeded to add an additional floor.
“The approval issued was for three suspended floors. We are surprised that the developer went ahead to construct an extra floor contrary to the approved design,” he said.
Omowaiye disclosed that engineers from the FHA headquarters and the agency’s technical team were immediately deployed to the site after the collapse to support rescue operations and assess the cause of the incident.
He commended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and emergency response agencies for their swift intervention following the tragedy.
The FHA official revealed that the agency had previously directed the developer to halt construction after officials observed deviations from the approved plan, but the directive was allegedly ignored.
“When our engineers noticed they were exceeding the approval, they directed them to stop, but they refused,” Omowaiye stated.
He further recalled that the Managing Director of the FHA, Oyetunde Ojo, had recently issued public warnings to developers carrying out projects on FHA lands to comply with approved standards and regulations.
Preliminary inspections, according to the FHA, also revealed signs of substandard construction materials. Omowaiye said samples of concrete, reinforcement materials and structural drawings had been forwarded to the agency’s headquarters for scientific analysis.
He disclosed that unstable sections of the collapsed structure would undergo controlled demolition to facilitate rescue efforts and ensure public safety. Residents living in nearby buildings are also expected to be relocated temporarily to allow emergency responders unrestricted access to the site.
To strengthen building compliance nationwide, Omowaiye said the FHA has established a dedicated enforcement department and introduced a stage-by-stage approval monitoring system for construction projects.
He added that the authority recently demolished several buildings in Abuja, Lagos and Kano after they failed structural integrity assessments.
“We mean business. We are committed to ensuring quality housing delivery and preventing avoidable building failures through strict enforcement of standards,” he said.
The building collapse has renewed concerns over adherence to construction regulations and the growing number of structural failures recorded in different parts of the country.
