Abia State Government in a bid to forestall cases of building collapse, has approved the establishment of a Standard Material Testing Laboratory in Umuahia,the state capital.
The Standard Material Testing Laboratory is expected to assist the state government assess properties and quality of construction materials to ensure structural integrity and safety in building projects.
Commissioner for information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this at Government House Umuahia,while briefing Newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu noted that the establishment of the state of the art material testing laboratory Is necessitated by the need to forestall building collapse in Abia as being experienced in other states.
He said: “We have not had a lot of building collapse in Abia State but we know that in other parts of the country, there has been this uprising in the way and manner buildings collapse and of course the attendant human and material resources.
“This government is poised to ensure that such instances do not occur in our state”.
The Commissioner emphasized that the Standard Material Testing Laboratory would provide a platform for testing materials used in road construction as well as for research purposes.
The Commissioner expressed disapproval of illegal gates, building attachments converted to shops by individuals and cautioned those responsible to promptly remove them.
Emphasizing the state government’s commitment to ensuring compliance, Prince Kanu stressed the government’s stance on preserving both commercial and residential buildings for their intended purposes, warned that enforcement actions would be taken where necessary..
The Commissioner said that Abia State’s ranking in the index of doing business has risen to 27th as against the 32nd position few months ago when the present administration came on board .
He attributed the development to the effective machineries put in place by the Otti adminstration which includes improved security and massive infrastructural development as well as the confidence reposed on the state government by investors.
Prince Kanu disclosed that the state government has redoubled efforts to revive moribund industries in the state which would inturn improve the revenue base for the state and as well, create employment opportunities for the teeming youths.
He said that the state government has set up a committee to harmonize tax payment to avoid double taxation and added that six touts where last week Friday apprehended by the state government in Aba and would be taken to court for prosecution.
While noting that the state government is not talking the issue of touting and illegal collection of levies lightly, the Commissioner warned those involved to desist from the act or face the full weight of the law.
Contributing, the General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority, while describing the Standard material testing as all encompassing, said the center has the capacity to handle soil test, enforcement of rods, aggregate materials and asphalt and would also handle buildings, roads construction works and bridges.
He said that the initiative is a well thought plan which would assist the state to ensure that every building, road construction including bridges meets government required standard.
Also, the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry,Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu while noting that the ministry has streamlined business registration process and the acquisition of Certificate of Occupancy within 30 days, emphasized it’s crucial role in facilitating the business transformation of the local economy adding that the improved access to facilities would attract investors to the state.
