Council disowns ‘builder’ arrested over Akwa Ibom collapse

The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) has disowned the site engineer of a building which collapsed at No. 3 Iman Street, off Aka Road, Uyo Akwa Ibom State.

The Akwa-Ibom State Police Command had arrested the suspect almost a year after the building collapsed and during interrogation, he claimed to be a builder but the council in a statement issued in Abuja signed by its registrar, Adetunji Adeniran, rubbished the claim.

Adeniran, in the statement, said the suspect, Felix Anietie Udoh, was not in CORBON’s register of licensed builders.

Recall that a four-storey building collapsed in September 2022 leading to the death of one Favour Chukwuemeka Okoro, while five other people were rescued but the site engineer, Udoh, was said to have fled.

• Kaduna Poly unions threaten strike over insecurity
• Flood wreaks havoc in Ogun industrial community, residents count losses

However, according to the Akwa Ibom Police Command, he was arrested on August 7, 2023, and during interrogation claimed to be a builder and not an engineer.

CORBON, in the statement, said, “Against the background of the claim by the suspect to be a builder, it is imperative that council states that building is a profession which is regulated by the `Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) which was established by an Act of the National Assembly, CAP B13 LFN 2002 (formerly Decree 45 of 1989).

“CORBON has the powers to define who is a builder, regulate the practice of building profession in all aspects and ramifications, as well as maintain a register of all those who are licensed to practice as builders in Nigeria.

“Following a thorough review of the Register of Builders in Nigeria, established pursuant to Sections 8 (1), (2) and 9 (1), (2) of the Builders Registration Act CAP B.13 LFN 2004, the name Felix Anietie Udoh is NOT contained in the register of builders, licensed to practice in Nigeria as of September 5, 2023.”

The statement added that the council was committed to collaborating with the government and other stakeholders in eradicating quackery in the practice of the building profession, promising to publicise the names of licensed builders soon.