Edo seals building over gas explosion in UNIBEN suburb

Edo State Development and Building Control Agency on, Wednesday, sealed up a building following a gas explosion that caused a partial collapse.

The building is located in the suburb of the University of Benin at Ekosodin quarter in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The Guardian gathered that three rooms in the building were completely razed down in the gas explosion with the occupants seriously injured and receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

The Managing Director, Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, Igabali Imoisili Darlington, confirmed that two students sustained various degrees of injuries in the explosion.

According to Igabali, “the partial collapse of the building is as a result of a gas explosion and from all indications, it is obvious that the house is no longer habitable, hence the need for the residents to quit the building.”

The director, who affirmed that experts would be called upon to assess the building to ascertain the level of damage before actions would be taken, opposed the use of the building for the time being, ordering it to be sealed till further notice.

On his part, Director, Department of Urban Renewal, TPL Musa Daudu, explained that it was rare for a building to collapse due to a gas explosion and stated that the building had a weak structure before the incident.

Meanwhile, the Director, Department of Planning Permit, TPL Nosa Asemota, who sympathized with the victims, advised prospective developers to seek the advice of professionals before embarking on building projects to avoid future damages of a like nature.

The caretaker of the house, Mrs. Victoria Ekong Achibong, explained that she was in her shop beside the building when she heard a loud sound, and suddenly, the roof of her shop went off and a part of the building came crashing down.
She said the injured students are being treated in a nearby hospital.