Rivers govt bans unauthorised building development, clamps down on quacks

The Rivers State Government has said it will clamp down on building constructions without the approval of the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

This move followed the collapse of two buildings under construction in parts of the state on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

A four-storey building on Peter Odili Road in the Port Harcourt metropolis collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday, leaving one dead and three severely injured. Over 10 persons were reportedly trapped beneath the rubble.

Edward Hart, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, stressed the impact of building collapses on the State, adding that the building on Odili Road did not receive approval from his Ministry.

He said recent incidents necessitated a synergy among relevant agencies to ensure that cases of building collapse do not repeat in the state.

Hart said, “The recent collapse of a building calls for an urgent review of the operations of the civil construction sector. There has to be a reintegration of the synergy between the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the professional bodies involved in building construction.

“This will require tighter control of the approval processes to eliminate quacks and the use of substandard materials and personnel in building projects, in addition to close and regular supervision by the ministry.

“As we all know, some of these incidents can be attributed to people not complying with approved building plans. Even when they comply, supervisors — especially some engineers — sometimes use substandard materials in construction. This has always been a challenge, even when projects are being monitored,” he said.

The commissioner said the collapsed building on Odili Road was not approved by the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. He, however, acknowledged that the structure was approved by the Federal Housing Authority.

He added that his Ministry would step up monitoring of building projects to ensure they follow the state’s building codes.

“Following regulations, I believe that now that this collapse has been recurring, the ministry will ensure continuous, regular monitoring of every site,” he said.

Hart urged property developers to “always ensure that you keep to the approved plans. Don’t go outside the approved plans. As much as you keep to the approved plans, also make use of quality materials and qualified personnel at your construction sites.

“The message is straightforward. When a building plan is approved, always stick to it. Do not deviate from the approved plans. If you follow the approved plans and use quality materials and qualified personnel at your construction sites, these problems will be avoided,” he said.