Civil Society inaugurates investigative panel

Gentlemen of  the Press, let me especially welcome you to this very solemn event which we consider a water-shed in the fight to protect, promote and preserve human rights of persons in Nigeria, particularly in Akwa Ibom State.

The unfortunate disaster that occurred in Uyo when the roof of the Reigners’ Bible Church building collapsed, killing scores of people, and leaving several more injured, calls for disclosure of facts and truths, beyond the volumes of sympathy that have been expressed. 

The sympathy so expressed by several persons, groups and institutions will have stronger impact if action is taken by independent groups, institutions and organizations, to investigate and unravel the real facts surrounding the incident. This is one building collapse too many, and the first major building collapse in Akwa Ibom State since the State was created in 1987. It cannot be left unattended to by civil society.

Ordinarily, we believe very strongly that; the Federal Government should have within the first three days of the occurrence of this incident, set up a very powerful investigative panel to look into  all the events leading to that collapse, conduct a comprehensive inquest, make its recommendations and suggestions.

Since the Federal Government failed to do this, even though the Akwa Ibom State Government has gone ahead to set up an investigative panel in this regard, the civil society which is the third prop of society after government and business, feels obligated to set up its own committee to investigate that unfortunate incident. 

The Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure (FREP) Rules gives us the power to intervene and assume locus where fundamental rights are in issue. We stand upon this and other extant laws of Nigeria, as well as treaties and international protocols which Nigeria is a signatory.

The committee is made up of eminent civil society practitioners and activists operating in Akwa Ibom State, and it is called The Civil Society Investigative Response to the Reigners’ Bible Church Collapse in Uyo. Members of the committee are:- Clifford Thomas, Paul Nyambi, Ann Udonte (Mrs.), Ndon Asian, Nsibiet John, Gabriel Udoh, and Ita Bassey Duke. Terms of Reference of the committee are:-

1.     Investigate the remote and immediate cause of the collapse of the building;
2.     Enquire into the surrounding circumstances that led to the collapse of the building;
3.     Identify persons who authorized construction work at the location of the collapsed building against Due Process and best practice;
4.     Identify the exact number of direct and indirect casualties, i.e., the dead, injured (exact degree of injuries sustained), relations of the victims (including dependents of the deceased);
5.     Calculate compensations accruable to victims who survived the incident, and to relations of the deceased.
The committee is required to make recommendations that should cover the following:-
i.                    Prevention of a possible re-occurrence of this kind of disaster;
ii.                  Succor, support and remedies to the victims, the dead and those who survive, including their dependents;
iii.                Culprits must be brought to book, and made to face the law;
iv.               Adopt the recommendations of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) as a technical working document on issues pertaining to technical and professional proficiency;
v.                 Inclusion of Environmental Impact Assessment  (EIA) in both public and private-based projects that are bound to impact on the socio-economic and cultural life of the people;

vi.               What should happen to authorities, agencies and institutions saddled with statutory responsibilities who fail to conduct same in accordance with the statute.

Gentlemen of the Press, while thanking you for coming here today, let us remind ourselves that we are all critical stakeholders in this society, and we cannot continue to leave this process in the hands of a few persons. People must take ownership of this process, and ensure we get to the bottom of this.

We call on members of the society, relations of the dead, those injured, persons with the requisite technical skills and knowledge and others, to make their memoranda available to the secretariat of the Committee, 13, Ndiya Street, off Aka Road, Uyo.

Once again, thank you for your contributions to humanity.


 Signed
Clifford Thomas, Esq.