The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has launched a probe into the collapse of a four-storey, 100-room hotel under construction at Independence Layout, Enugu, which killed one worker and left several others seriously injured.

The investigation will examine possible design flaws, construction defects, the quality of materials used and other factors that may have contributed to the incident.

A 15-member Project Investigation, Failure and Collapse Analysis (PIFCA) Committee, constituted by the NSE Enugu State Council and led by Dr Victor Chiwuzie, visited the site yesterday to assess the collapsed structure and begin its investigation.

Chiwuzie, who spoke after conducting members round the site, said the committee would establish what went wrong, determine responsibility and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.

He said the investigation would also determine whether the project was handled by competent professionals and whether construction work complied with approved designs and engineering standards.

“We want to find out whether the failure was caused by the design or a construction problem. We need to understand exactly what went wrong so that such lapses can be prevented in the future,” he said.

Chiwuzie expressed concern over reports that the contractor and those supervising the project had fled, insisting that the committee would make efforts to locate them and obtain relevant information about the construction process.

He said questioning those involved would help investigators establish the quality of materials used and determine whether the work executed on site matched the project drawings.

The committee chairman also raised concerns about some structural components observed at the site, saying their suitability and quality needed to be investigated.

“You can see some of the beams look like broomsticks. We need to find out where they were used and whether the materials met the required standards,” he said.

Chiwuzie assured the public that the committee would complete its assignment and make its findings known.

Also speaking, Chairman of the NSE Enugu State Council, Loveday Osondu, described the collapse as a reminder that engineering decisions have direct consequences for human lives and public safety.

He urged engineers to uphold competence, integrity and accountability, while adhering strictly to professional standards in building design, construction and supervision.

Osondu expressed concern for those affected and commended emergency responders and relevant agencies for their efforts.

He called for collective responsibility among government authorities, developers, contractors, engineers and other professionals in the built environment to improve construction safety.

He gave the assurance that the NSE Enugu branch would contribute its technical expertise towards promoting safer construction practices and more reliable infrastructure across the state.

“Every building must be designed properly, constructed responsibly, supervised professionally and made safe for its intended use,” he said. (The Guardian)