The partial collapse of the ongoing Gombe State House of Assembly Complex has left many concerned about the safety of construction projects in the state. On Monday, Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau led a delegation to the project site, accompanied by Senior Government Officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, and the Head of Civil Service, Prof. Mu'azu Shehu.

According to sources, the collapse occurred during the concreting process, and the site engineer, Architect Ime Umo, and the contractor, George Bumarun of BMC Multi Concept, expressed regret over the incident, attributing the collapse to human error.

The delegation received a briefing from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport, Danladi Adamu, who explained that the contract for the Assembly Complex was awarded to BMC Multi Concept in 2024. He added that the collapse affected only the canopy of the structure and did not compromise the integrity of the main building.

Speaking during the inspection, Deputy Governor Jatau commended the contractor for its openness in explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident. He assured residents that the incident will be thoroughly investigated to determine its immediate and remote causes. "We have opened the process to experts and engineering firms to identify precisely what caused this collapse and how it can be rectified," he stated.

The government's decision to order an integrity test and technical investigation into the incident has been praised for showing transparency in its handling of public projects. The delegation later visited the injured workers at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, where the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Yusuf Mohammad Abdullahi, and Dr. Emmanuel Bukar Yakubu Lakobbe said the patients were in stable condition and responding well to treatment.

Key Facts

  • Eight workers were involved in the partial collapse of the Gombe State House of Assembly Complex.
  • One person died, while seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
  • Five of the injured had been treated and discharged, while two were receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
  • The collapse occurred during the concreting process.
  • The contract for the Assembly Complex was awarded to BMC Multi Concept in 2024.
  • The collapse affected only the canopy of the structure and did not compromise the integrity of the main building.

The Gombe State Government has demonstrated its commitment to transparency and accountability in public projects. By ordering an integrity test and technical investigation into the incident, the government has shown that it values the safety of its citizens and the integrity of its construction projects.