…As Committee Confirms Integrity of Standing Structure
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The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has recommended the continuation of construction work on the ongoing Gombe State House of Assembly project, following a two-month investigation into the collapse of the reinforced concrete entrance canopy.
The incident occurred on July 24, 2026, while fresh concrete was being placed on the structure in the ongoing Gombe State Assembly Project.
Presenting the panel’s findings to the Gombe State Government, COREN National Registrar, Professor Okorie Austin Uche, said the investigation involved detailed consultations with professionals and other stakeholders associated with the project, as well as an examination of relevant technical documents.
He said the panel reviewed all relevant project records, including working drawings, structural designs, reinforcement details, material test results, construction sequence, formwork and propping arrangements, among others.
Professor Uche said the investigation established that the consulting structural engineer possessed the requisite qualifications to practise, while noting the need to further strengthen professional representation at the project site.
On the integrity of the main structure, Professor Uche said the panel found no evidence of deficiencies in the concrete or reinforcement materials.
He explained that concrete test results showed adequate compressive strength, a finding further corroborated by integrity tests conducted on the standing structure
“The quality and sizes of the reinforcement bars found at the site were also consistent with those specified in the structural drawings and were technically adequate,” he said.
The panel, he said, identified deficiencies in the temporary formwork and construction sequence as the likely causes of the collapse, noting that the concrete had been cast at once rather than being placed in stages.
Professor Uche said a comprehensive report would be submitted to COREN for appropriate action regarding all persons found to have played roles in the incident.
Based on its findings, the panel recommended that the state government continue with the project, subject to the engagement of qualified professionals by the contractor and consultant to ensure adequate supervision and prevent a recurrence.
Receiving the findings on behalf of the Gombe State Government, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, commended COREN and members of the investigative panel for what he described as a thorough examination of the incident.
Dr. Jatau said the government deliberately subjected the collapsed structure to independent technical scrutiny rather than concealing the incident, stressing that the objective was to establish what went wrong and ensure accountability.
He said the investigation was also intended to strengthen professional standards in the execution of government projects and ensure that lessons from the incident were applied to prevent future occurrences.
The Deputy Governor expressed concern over the contractor’s engagement of less-experienced personnel despite the qualification of the consulting structural engineer, as well as the decision to cast the concrete continuously instead of following the appropriate stages of construction.
He assured the panel that the state government would fully implement its recommendations and strengthen professional supervision as construction work resumes.
Dr. Jatau further stated that anyone found culpable, whether an engineer or non-engineer, would be required to account for their role in the incident.
Earlier, the Chairman of the North-East Regional Steering Committee, Engineer Mohammed Lawan, expressed optimism that the outcome of the investigation would contribute to improved standards and further development of the engineering profession.
He commended the stakeholders for their cooperation and thanked the state government for providing an enabling environment for the investigation.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Investigative Panel, Engineer Isyaka Lawan, said the panel worked diligently for two months to complete its assignment despite the difficulty in evacuating the collapsed structure at the site, which required additional time beyond the four-week period initially earmarked for the assignment.
He expressed hope that the findings would serve the purpose for which the panel was constituted and contribute to preventing a recurrence of the incident.
Recall that immediately after the incident, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, ordered the immediate suspension of work at the site and subjected the investigation to independent investigators and other relevant professional authorities for accountability, safety and precaution.
