PRESS RELEASE:CONCRETE EROSION, MINISTER ORDERS REMOVAL OF BAMBOO PROPS

                                               

Following the erosion of fresh concrete caused by the weakness of the bamboo props used to provide support to the on-going construction of an office complex in Mabushi, the FCT Administration has directed that all the bamboo props still in use within the building be removed immediately and replaced with iron props.

The FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Musa Bello gave this directive on Monday when he visited the site to assess the situation.

Briefing the Minister at the site, the Acting Director in charge of Public Buildings, Arch I.K. Ekeldu told the Minister that as soon as they received the report of the incident, they quickly mobilized to the scene to conduct investigation.

He said their findings revealed that the bamboo props used to support the concrete floor of the building were weak and thus gave way to the weight of the fresh concrete mix.

His words: “It is not a case of building collapse but rather some of the bamboo props are weak and as soon as the raw concrete began to settle down they succumb to stress and failed, that is why the concrete eroded”.   

“Only a portion of the first level of the building is affected but I can assure you that as a precautionary measure, we are going to conduct an integrity test on the remaining part of the building for quality assurance”.

The affected building is a five storey structure being built to house the FCT Department of Road Traffic Services (VIO).

Signed

Abubakar Sani

Special Assistant (Media) to FCT Minister

Monday, May 22nd, 2017