COREN Sets Up Nine-Member Panel On IKoyi Building Collapse

The Council of the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has set up a nine-member panel to conduct an inquiry into the collapse of a 21 storey building in Lagos.

Recall, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had previously set up a similar panel to unravel the causes of the collapse of the luxury apartment.

The President of COREN, Ali Rabiu, announced the constitution of the body’s fact-finding panel at a press briefing in Lagos

Rabiu said: “Subsequently on behalf of the council, I have constituted a COREN Inquisition Panel on the collapsed 21-storey building at Ikoyi, Lagos State.

“This is according to Section 1(1) h of the Engineers (Amendment) Act 2018 that empowers COREN to investigate Engineering failures.”

The Chairman of the panel, George Okoroma, said: “We need to ask questions and put them together in perspective. COREN is investigating to forestall it from happening again. Not only that, there are buildings around the area, when this building collapsed, there was a movement that would affect the homes in the area.

“That’s why you need a chemical test. There are a lot of engineering tests that need to be done to ensure that at the end of the day, we are investigating what is around there and forestall future occurrences in the development of building infrastructure in our country.”

“I don’t want to tie us down in the number of weeks because there are some laboratory tests to be done. When you talk of soil investigation, it is not something you can work on the site and just get your information.

“What is important is that whatever result we get at the end of the day, we would channel it to the appropriate authority.

“First and foremost, we are working for COREN, the investigation we are doing is for the Council of Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria who has set up this committee, the report would be made available to COREN, an agency of government who would submit it to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Lagos State government.”

Other members include Bunmi Ajayi, Mrs Buki Ejiwumi, Victor Oyenuga, Eddy Atumonyoga, Dr. Rain Sulyman, Dr. Will Beresibo, Ibukunnl Ogunbayo, and Tomide Akinnawo.