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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, April 16, 2015

News Synagogue: Defective foundation not responsible for collapse, witness insists

L-R: Member AdHoc Committee on Investigation of the Alleged Diversion of Crude Oil, Hon. Hassan El-Badawi, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Friday Itula, and Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Ishaka Mohammed Bawa, during the investigative hearing on the alleged diversion of crude oil, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

oseph Folayan, on Wednesday asserted that the collapse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations’ guest house was not caused by a defective foundation. Folayan, the principal partner of Progress Engineering Company, made the assertion while testifying before a coroner’s inquest investigating the cause of the collapse of the six-storey building. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inquest was set up by the Lagos State Government to investigate the Sept.12, 2014 building collapse which killed 116 people, mainly South Africans. The Lagos State Material Testing Agency had claimed in its Structural Integrity Test on the building that it collapsed as a result of a defective foundation. However, Folayan, who was being cross-examined by Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran, counsel to the Lagos State Government, on Wednesday stood by his earlier testimony before the court. The former chairman of the defunct Nigerian Geo-technical Association maintained that the 2.2 metres by 2.2 metres used for the foundation base was adequate for the structure. According to him, the 2.5 Ton Machine used by the government agency for the soil test is outdated and is no longer recommended under geo-technical engineering best practices. Folayan said: “The collapse of the building of the Synagogue Church did not occur as a result of foundation failure. “There could not have been overloading because the strength of the soil, based on the exhibits before the court, can carry that load.” Also testifying, Mr Oreoluwa Fadayomi from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), a voluntary association of professional engineers, eliminated weak foundation as the cause of the collapse. Fadayomi, however, told the inquest presided over by Mr Oyetade Komolafe that the collapse was caused by a combination of design and detailing errors on the part of engineers who handled the project. “All the ingredients for a sudden collapse were present in this structure before the collapse,” he said. According to him, from the investigations carried out by the BCPG, the columns and beams used for construction of the structure were very weak. He noted that though the Synagogue Church provided the best materials for the construction, they might not have carried out due diligence on the competence of the building engineers. Fadayomi also called for the establishment of a structure to preserve evidence at building collapse sites to make investigations easier. NAN reports that the matter was adjourned till April 23 for further hearing. (NAN)

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Farmers to get agro-allied University By Usman Shuaibu

he National Coordinator of the Agro-Allied Agricultural Commodities Cooperatives, Prof. Queen Vitoria Abike Adesuyi, has said that plans have been concluded to establish the Agro-Allied University of Culture and Technology for the farmers as well as Nigerians in the country. Adesuyi, who disclosed this in

an interview with Peoples Daily on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the permanent site of the University would be located in Ondo State. She further said that already the University had been registered with the National Universities Commission (NUC) as well as Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). She called on the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari to support the

establishment of the University financially in order to take-off its building. She pointed out that the Agro-Allied Cooperatives is in partnership with the Federal Government to assist the farmers, artisans and marketers among other less privileged ones to obtain loans to carryout their business effectively without any obstacle. She said that about five million businessmen including farmers

had been registered across the country to benefit from the Agroallied Cooperatives. The Agro-allied coordinator, however, advised the farmers as well as other businessmen that as the N50 billion was released to them through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other private financial institutions they should utilize the money wisely to enable them to pay their loans as at when due.

Katsina INEC presents certificate of return to Masari, others

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Katsina State on Wednesday presented the Certificate of Return to the governor-elect, Alhaji Aminu Masari, his Deputy, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, and National Assembly members. The North-West INEC Zonal Commissioner, Amb. Ahmed Muhammad, who presented the certificates, called on the elected persons to be magnanimous in victory. Muhammad called on the governor-elect and National

Assembly members to extend hands of friendship to those they defeated during the election in order to develop the state. The commissioner commended those that were defeated for accepting INEC results in good faith because in every contest there must be a looser and a winner. Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Katsina, Alhaji Ibrahim Bagobiri, commended the electorate for their peaceful conduct during and after the election. ``The commission’s office in

Katsina has conducted a free and fair election devoid of rancor, bickering and violence. ``We successfully conducted election in 33 local government areas with the exception of Danmusa Local Government where there were some problems. ``We have concluded all arrangements to conduct a fresh election in 10 wards on Saturday, April 18, in Danmusa, so as to produce state assembly member for the area,’’ Bagobiri said. Also, the governor-elect challenged his elected All Progressives Congress colleagues

to strive hard and provide dividends of democracy to the electorate. Masari said that they have a task of improving the living standard of electorate or they would be voted out in 2019. He pointed out that the APC government would do its best to provide qualitative education and good health care delivery system in the state. Masari appealed to the people to be patient because his administration was determined to improve their living condition. (NAN)

Cultists Kill two persons, pregnant woman in Delta From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

ult war raging in the last six months in Agbor community and its environs, Delta State on Tuesday reared its ugly heads when suspected cultists operating in the area, allegedly killed two persons including a pregnant woman. Reports said the victims were killed and dumped by the roadside, thereby causing hitherto palpable

tension and fear of the unknown. It was gathered that police in the area have arrested several cult suspected members but upon interrogation and investigation, highly placed persons allegedly intervened to set them free. The incident which took place around the Benin-Asaba Agbor express way, took place at wee house with owners of the corpses yet to identify them. Sources said one of the victims,

a pregnant woman traded on garri from Benin to Agbor who was stranded on the fateful day before the unexpected happened. Police sources in the divisional police headquarters said the police were on the frail of the suspected cultists, adding that two persons were arrested while search for others continue. Meanwhile the corpses of the victims were taken to Agbor General Hospital Mortuary, while

some persons who claimed to relations of the deceased were seen crying profusely for justice prevail Agbor and its environs in the last few years have been under siege of hoodlums including cult related activities where several persons were allegedly killed. Contacted for comment, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, DSP Celestina Kalu claimed she was yet to get the report as at the time of filling this report.