Akpabio harps on enforcement of town planning laws

…Mourns students killed in Jos building collapse

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has advised the Plateau State government to ensure that the laws governing town planning are reinforced to prevent a recurrence of the recent tragic building collapse in which some students lost their lives.

Akpabio made these remarks when the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, accompanied by some traditional rulers, paid him a courtesy call in his office on Tuesday.

The Senate President told his guests: “We want to condole you on the building collapse. It was such a horrific sight, and the building was not even constructed during your tenure. This means you have to take steps to reinforce the town planning laws and take a lot of interest in the building industry.

“No sentiments attached. No matter whose ox is gored, if someone does not follow the rules, if someone erects a building on a passage for stream water, once the foundation is questioned, such a building should be brought down.

“We know what has happened in the past. It seems that if the high and mighty in society construct buildings, nobody would want to touch the buildings out of respect for them.

“We will continue to mourn the demise of those children. The entire country is very sad. So on behalf of the 10th Senate, please accept our condolences. We are with you in this period of mourning.”

Governor Mutfwang said he and his entourage were at the National Assembly to participate in the public hearing on the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2024.

The bill is expected to upgrade the Mining and Geosciences Institute to a full-fledged university, and the Governor expressed the hope that his state would host the university.