The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Gombe State Chapter, has expressed “profound sorrow” over the collapse of a reinforced concrete slab at the ongoing construction site of the new Gombe State House of Assembly complex.
In a statement released to the press, the party’s Public Relations Officer, Abdulkadir Ahmad Dukku, confirmed that several laborers sustained injuries during the incident and are currently receiving medical attention.
Extending “heartfelt sympathies” to the victims and their families, the opposition party urged the state government to take immediate responsibility for the welfare, medical care, and compensation of those affected by the collapse.
The incident has triggered sharp criticism from the PDP regarding the integrity of the project, with the party asserting that the collapse “raises serious concerns about compliance with approved engineering standards, construction quality, quality control measures, and workplace safety protocols at the project site.”
Consequently, the PDP is demanding an immediate suspension of all construction activities. The party has called upon regulatory authorities and professional engineering bodies to facilitate a “comprehensive independent and transparent investigation” to determine the root causes of the structural failure, including potential lapses in project planning, supervision, and procurement.
The statement further emphasized that the findings of such an inquiry must be made public, insisting that “any contractor, consultant, supervising authority, public official, or individual found to have acted negligently or violated professional, procurement, or safety regulations should be held accountable in accordance with the law.”
Beyond the immediate incident, the PDP voiced broader anxieties regarding the delivery of public infrastructure in the state, warning that “where profit is placed above quality, engineering standards are compromised and public projects become vulnerable to avoidable failures.”
Addressing the procurement process, the party alleged that potential conflicts of interest and the influence of officials in contract execution undermine transparency and exclude competent local contractors.
The PDP demanded a thorough review of the project’s implementation to ensure that “due process was followed” and to restore public trust.
“The safety and welfare of construction workers must never be compromised,” the party noted, adding that “public infrastructural projects must be executed strictly in accordance with established engineering standards, procurement laws and best practices.”