Plateau State Halts Construction at Unsafe Shopping Mall in Jos City Center

Summary: The Plateau State Government, through the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), has ordered a halt to construction at a shopping mall in the Terminus area of Jos. The decision comes after sections of the building collapsed, prompting safety concerns. Arch. Hart Bonkat, the General Manager of JMDB, disclosed this during an onsite assessment with journalists and building professionals.

Key Points:

•The decision to stop construction follows collapses in parts of the building on February 4th, 2024.

• The building, housing approximately 180 shops, began construction during the previous administration.

• Arch. Hart Bonkat emphasized that the structure did not meet safety standards and lacked necessary approvals.

• Despite repeated stop-work orders and demolition notices, the owners continued construction.

• Concerns about the project’s legitimacy arose due to insufficient documentation and unverified ownership.

• Commissioner Joshua Laven affirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing regulations to prevent further endangerment of lives.

• Building collapse prevention experts and stakeholders highlighted deficiencies in foundation and approval processes.

Context: The incident underscores the importance of regulatory oversight in construction projects to ensure public safety and adherence to standards.