Ivory Coast: in Abidjan, 80% of constructions do not have a building permit
A view of the Plateau district, the business district of Abidjan, the capital of the Ivory Coast.
AFP PHOTO / Sia Kambou
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
In Côte d'Ivoire, it is a too frequent “phenomenon” which arouses the anger of Abidjanis: building collapses due to poor workmanship.
Ten days ago, a dozen people were killed in the collapse of a five-story building under construction in the Anono district of Cocody.
Last Saturday, the balconies of a three-story building fell, without causing any victims.
Last year, eleven buildings collapsed in Abidjan.
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With our correspondent in Abidjan,
Pierre Pinto
In Côte d'Ivoire, the rules on building permits are clear.
The plans must be signed by an architect.
For buildings of more than two floors, the client, that is to say generally the owner, must also enlist the services of a "
consulting engineer
" and have his site checked by a control office. private.
However, this regulatory framework is not respected, far from it.
Evidenced by this statistic revealed, this Monday, March 22, by the Minister of Construction, Bruno Koné.
"
Indeed, in the city of Abidjan, today, 80
% of the constructions which are carried out do not have a building permit
", confirmed the minister.
1/2 Le Min @Bruno_N_Kone has, at the end of a series of visits to the Anono and Bonoumin sites, invited the national and international press to a conference this Monday, March 22 to comment on the news of the MCLU marked by Building collapses in some neighborhoods ... pic.twitter.com/RLB9QSoK8S
- MCLU (@mclu_gouv) March 22, 2021
In 2020, 2,700 minutes of offenses were drawn up.
Four buildings were demolished and two dangerous buildings were evacuated, but it's a drop in the ocean.
The ministry "
cannot control everything despite the strengthening of its resources on the ground last year
", defends the minister.
The case of the Anono building in which a dozen people perished is symptomatic.
“
In this case, we started the inspections on January 4 and the last check on February 26.
So, from January 4 to February 26, there was no work.
We had our backs turned;
he resumed work.
On many sites, we are in this situation.
We have heard the message.
From now on, all cases of non-compliance with the texts will be the subject of complaints
”, emphasized Bruno Koné.
Owners, architects or contractors who do not respect the rules risk up to two years in prison and 10 million F in fines as well as administrative fines of up to 25,000 F per square meter.
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