By Emmanuel Elebeke

A member of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon. Mustapha Usman Hassan, has called for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the collapse of a section of the entrance canopy at the New Gombe State House of Assembly Complex.

Hassan described the incident as a tragedy that requires accountability, following the death of one person and injuries sustained by several others when part of the structure under construction collapsed.

In a statement issued after the incident, the lawmaker expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

“The loss of a life in a project of such public importance is deeply painful. My thoughts and prayers are with the affected families during this difficult time,” he said.

Hassan noted that the New Gombe State House of Assembly Complex, awarded in June 2024 at a contract cost of ₦14,053,828,312.58, is expected to be completed in January 2027.

He stressed that given the scale of public investment and the importance of the project to the state’s democratic institutions, all stages of construction must meet the highest engineering, safety and quality standards.

The lawmaker commended emergency responders, security agencies, healthcare workers and volunteers for their prompt efforts in rescuing victims and providing medical assistance.

He called for a transparent and professional technical investigation to determine the immediate and underlying causes of the structural failure.

According to him, the probe should review relevant project documents, including architectural and structural designs, engineering calculations, soil test reports, inspection records and construction logs.

He also recommended forensic assessments of the structure, including comparisons between the executed work and approved designs, material quality tests, and detailed structural analyses to determine whether there were design flaws, unauthorised alterations or construction failures.

Hassan said anyone found responsible for negligence, professional misconduct or breaches of approved engineering and safety standards should face appropriate sanctions under the law.

He emphasised that the call for investigation was not aimed at politicising the incident or assigning blame prematurely but at promoting transparency, accountability and the protection of lives.

“The foremost responsibility of every government is the protection of lives and property. Issues concerning public safety should unite us rather than divide us,” he stated.

The lawmaker urged residents to remain calm and avoid speculation while the technical investigation ordered by the Gombe State Government continues.

He appealed to contractors, consultants, supervising engineers and regulatory authorities to cooperate fully with investigators to ensure a credible assessment of the project.

Hassan further called for the findings of the investigation to be made public and for the recommendations to be implemented to strengthen quality assurance, improve regulatory oversight and prevent similar incidents in future public infrastructure projects.

He reaffirmed his commitment to promoting accountability and compliance with engineering, procurement and construction standards in public projects, stressing that government infrastructure must provide quality, durability, safety and value for public funds.

Hassan prayed for the repose of the deceased, speedy recovery for the injured and continued peace and progress for Gombe State.