A member of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Mustapha Usman Hassan, has called for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the collapse of a section of the entrance canopy at the new Assembly complex, describing the incident as a tragedy that requires full accountability.
In a statement issued on Friday, Hassan expressed condolences to the family of a worker who died in the incident and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
He said the loss of life on a major public infrastructure project was deeply regrettable and stressed the need to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
The lawmaker noted that the Assembly complex, awarded in June 2024 at a cost of ₦14.05 billion, is scheduled for completion in January 2027. Given the scale of public investment and the importance of the project to the state’s democratic institutions, he said every stage of construction should meet the highest engineering, safety and quality standards.
Hassan commended emergency responders, security agencies, healthcare workers and volunteers for their prompt response in rescuing victims and providing medical assistance.
He called for a transparent and independent technical investigation to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of the structural failure.
According to him, investigators should examine key project documents, including architectural and structural drawings, engineering calculations, soil test reports, inspection records and construction logs.
He also recommended that forensic engineers compare the completed work with the approved design, determine whether any unauthorised alterations were made, conduct laboratory tests on construction materials such as concrete and reinforcement steel, and carry out detailed structural analyses to establish whether the structure had been subjected to loads beyond its design capacity.
Hassan said anyone found responsible through negligence, professional misconduct or breaches of approved engineering and safety standards should be held accountable in accordance with the law.
He stressed that his call was not intended to politicise the incident but to promote transparency, accountability and the protection of lives.
The lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening compliance with engineering, procurement and construction standards in public infrastructure projects, insisting that government-funded projects must deliver quality, durability, safety and value for money.
He urged residents to remain calm and avoid speculation while the technical investigation ordered by the Gombe State Government is ongoing.
Hassan also appealed to contractors, consultants, supervising engineers and regulatory authorities to cooperate fully with investigators to ensure a credible assessment of the project.
He further called for the findings of the investigation to be made public and for its recommendations to be fully implemented to improve quality assurance, strengthen regulatory oversight and prevent similar incidents on future public infrastructure projects.
The lawmaker expressed hope that the Assembly complex would ultimately be completed as a safe, durable and world-class legislative facility.
