Assembly complex collapse: Gombe orders integrity test, visits victims

Gombe State authorities have ordered a comprehensive integrity test and technical investigation into the partial collapse of the Gombe State House of Assembly Complex. The government has assured residents that the incident will be thoroughly investigated to identify its immediate and remote causes.

Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau provided this assurance on Monday during an inspection of the project site. He was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, and other senior officials. They were briefed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport, Danladi Adamu, who confirmed the contract was awarded to BMC Multi Concept in 2024. Adamu stated that only the canopy structure collapsed, without compromising the main building's integrity.

The incident involved eight workers. Tragically, one person died, while seven sustained injuries. Five of the injured workers have been treated and discharged. The remaining two are receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) in Gombe and are reportedly responding well.

Jatau commended the contractor for their transparency and stated the government has involved engineering experts and relevant professional bodies to pinpoint the exact cause and recommend corrective actions. "We have opened the process to experts and engineering firms to identify precisely what caused the collapse and how it can be rectified. Unlike in some places where such incidents are concealed, Gombe has chosen the path of transparency by subjecting the structure to a comprehensive integrity test," the deputy governor said. He expressed confidence that the damaged section would be rebuilt to a higher standard following the investigation and urged the contractor to implement the experts' recommendations. The deputy governor extended condolences to the deceased worker's family and wished the injured a swift recovery.

Architect Ime Umo, the site engineer, and George Bumarun, the contractor from BMC Multi Concept, expressed regret over the incident. They attributed the collapse to a failure during the concreting process and extended their condolences to the bereaved family, the state government, and the people of Gombe State. They pledged to rectify the defect according to professional engineering standards.

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We have opened the process to experts and engineering firms to identify precisely what caused the collapse and how it can be rectified. Unlike in some places where such incidents are concealed, Gombe has chosen the path of transparency by subjecting the structure to a comprehensive integrity test.