Panel  to perform tests on structures near collapsed DMGS building

A panel of inquiry is to conduct integrity and structural tests on buildings around the collapsed Dennis Memorial Grammar School centenary building in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The panel is charged with investigation of cases of collapsed buildings in the state.

The Chairman of the eight-man panel of inquiry, Mr Victor Meju, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday.

Meju,  also the Chairman of Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter,  said that preliminary findings showed that the five-storey centenary building collapsed due to a gap between the technical engineer and the engineering team.

He said the panel, which started sitting on Tuesday, had received testimonies from the various teams  involved in the construction process.

The chairman said the building engineer could not interpret the technical report on the soil which recommended raft foundation of ground beams.

According to the chairman, the building engineer did what he felt would be good.

“Again, we discovered that the consultant was working on pro bono which is unethical, because without collecting consultancy fee, you will not be able to give the job priority and professional attention which is what played out.

“The man who did the foundation was different from the man who did from the DPC to the last floor and there was a compromise of the quality control management at a time when they engaged daily pay workers due to lack of funds,” he said.

Meju said that structural and integrity tests would be conducted on buildings around the collapsed one  to ascertain their safety.

He said that the tests would be on soil, the chemical composition of cement used, reinforcement rods and other relevant materials.