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.

The post FHA Blames Developer for Port Harcourt Building Collapse, Says Approved Plan Was Altered appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

A tragic structural failure along Dr Peter Odili Road in the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State has resulted in one confirmed fatality and multiple injuries. Emergency response teams successfully extracted three individuals alive from the rubble after a five-storey building under construction suddenly gave way. The incident, which unfolded near the Eterna Filling Station, initially trapped an estimated seven construction workers under heavy debris, throwing the local community into panic.

Preliminary findings indicate that the project developer intentionally violated regulatory approvals and safety standards. While the Federal Housing Authority originally approved plans for a three-storey building at the site, the developer proceeded to erect a five-storey structure instead. Furthermore, state government officials revealed that the site engineer had previously ignored formal directives to halt construction operations after visible structural irregularities were discovered during a routine inspection. Technical experts visiting the scene noted that a visual assessment pointed toward the extensive use of substandard concrete, cement, and reinforcing steel bars.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially sealed the site and ordered a full-scale investigation into the disaster. Accompanied by urban development and physical planning officials, the governor stated that the developer had repeatedly rebuffed inspections by claiming state authorities lacked jurisdiction over the federally allocated land. Governor Fubara emphasized that compliance with engineering standards takes precedence over jurisdictional disputes, especially when human lives are lost. Multinational construction firm Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has deployed heavy excavators, mobile cranes, and specialized concrete cutters to coordinate with state emergency agencies as recovery operations continue at the site.

The post Port Harcourt building collapse leaves one dead and three rescued appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The National Union of Tenants of Nigeria (NUTN) has appealed to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to urgently intervene in the worsening housing crisis affecting residents of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

The appeal was contained in a letter signed by the union’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Ceaser Enwefah, and addressed to the governor in Port Harcourt.

According to the union, the housing situation in the two local government areas has deteriorated into a full-scale crisis, impacting more than 1.5 million residents and placing significant financial strain on families.

Rising Rents Deepen Housing Affordability Challenges

Enwefah stated that approximately 80 per cent of residents, including civil servants, company employees, self-employed individuals and retirees, now spend a substantial portion of their income on rent.

He noted that civil servants earning the national minimum wage of ₦70,000 per month, equivalent to ₦840,000 annually, are paying as much as ₦900,000 per year for self-contained apartments.

According to him, rental prices across the state have increased sharply in recent years.

“Rents for double-room apartments have risen from ₦120,000 to ₦520,000 annually, while one-bedroom flats that previously rented for ₦300,000 now cost as much as ₦1.5 million per year,” he said.

Housing Deficit Blamed for Soaring Rent

The union attributed the situation to an acute housing deficit allegedly worsened by the indiscriminate approval of building plan amendments and the conversion of residential properties into commercial facilities.

Enwefah also alleged that some landlords and unregistered house agents were exploiting the shortage by imposing excessive rent increases on tenants.

He warned that the trend has significantly reduced housing affordability and placed many households under severe economic pressure.

NUTN Calls for Immediate Government Intervention

To address the crisis, the union called on the Rivers State Government to suspend further conversion of residential buildings to non-residential uses within the affected areas.

The organisation also urged Governor Fubara to consider placing a temporary halt on rent increases pending the introduction of new housing policy measures.

“We urge Governor Fubara to suspend rent increases pending the introduction of new policy directives,” Enwefah stated.

The union further advocated the appointment of a substantive or supervisory commissioner to oversee the Ministry of Housing and coordinate efforts aimed at addressing the housing challenges facing residents.

According to Enwefah, previous efforts to draw the attention of relevant authorities to the issue through the ministry had not produced meaningful results.

Affordable Housing Key to Economic Stability

The NUTN executive secretary stressed that access to affordable housing remains a fundamental component of social and economic development.

He referenced the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Nigeria’s Constitution, which emphasise the importance of decent living conditions for citizens.

Enwefah also cited international housing standards, noting that housing costs should remain affordable and proportionate to residents’ incomes.

He warned that failure to address the housing crisis could worsen poverty levels, increase financial hardship and trigger social unrest.

“Nigerians are sacrificing virtually all their earnings to pay rent, leaving many families in severe economic hardship,” he said.

The union called on the Rivers State Government to adopt its recommendations as part of a broader strategy to improve housing affordability, increase housing supply and protect tenants from excessive rent burdens.

Stakeholders have continued to express concern over rising rental costs across major Nigerian cities, with housing affordability emerging as one of the most pressing urban development challenges facing millions of residents.

The post Rivers Tenants Urge Fubara to Address Worsening Housing Crisis in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

A fire outbreak on Monday disrupted activities at the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, sparking panic among civil servants and visitors. The blaze, which affected the ground floor of the Podium Block, was quickly brought under control through a coordinated emergency response.

Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, confirmed that no casualties were recorded. She commended the swift intervention of the Rivers State Fire Service and its partners  including the Federal Fire Service, the military, and private responders for containing the fire before it spread.

“We were informed of a fire at the right wing of the ground floor of Podium Block and immediately contacted the Rivers State Fire Service, which responded promptly,” Brown said. “We also received quick support from the Federal Fire Service and other partners. It was a combined effort, and thankfully, the situation is now under control.”

Dr. Brown expressed gratitude to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for revamping the state’s fire service infrastructure, noting that his proactive investment in emergency response helped avert a major disaster.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been triggered by an electrical fault. The Head of Service advised civil servants to adhere to strict safety measures by switching off and unplugging electrical appliances after work hours to prevent similar incidents.

She added that Governor Fubara has directed plans for the refurbishment of affected sections of the secretariat, assuring that the government remains committed to ensuring a safe and functional work environment for state employees.

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