The Edo State Government on Wednesday launched a digital platform, EdoBuild360, for monitoring building projects and assessing the condition of government-owned buildings across the state.
The platform is designed to provide digital records of buildings and enable the monitoring of construction projects, from planning and execution to completion.
Speaking at the launch, the Special Adviser to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Building Projects Monitoring and Implementation, Irene Ojo, said her office developed the initiative in partnership with government agencies, including the Edo State Health Insurance Company, the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency and the Edo State Public Building and Maintenance Agency.
She said the platform would also provide information on building safety and make it possible for Edo indigenes in the diaspora to assess properties they intend to acquire.
Ojo said the initiative followed a needs assessment she conducted after assuming office, during which she identified gaps in safety practices within the building sector.
“It is something that started from day one. The very day I resumed office as a Special Adviser. I had run a needs assessment on every project that I got involved in and then realised that there were gaps as far as safety is concerned within the building environment.
“Of course, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, gave me the enabling environment to be able to think, to be able to go ahead and begin to look at what the gaps are.
“The EdoBuild360 is a platform that enables end-to-end management within the building environment from planning to building, to execute and monitor the entire process.
“Not only would you be able to know how many buildings are in this state, you would also be able to ascertain the true conditions of those buildings, because in the platform, condition surveys are embedded where trained inspectors can now go ahead and inspect buildings and see the true condition of the buildings, whether or not they are okay,” she said.
Ojo said she had visited construction sites across the state’s three senatorial districts and observed workers operating without personal protective equipment.
She said the government was concerned about the practice, adding that safety equipment was provided for in construction contracts awarded by the state.
She also said her office was engaging the Edo State Health Insurance Company to discuss health insurance coverage for construction workers with contractors, particularly in cases of workplace accidents.
Earlier, the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, represented by Dr Peter Osagie, said safety should become a culture rather than remain a matter of compliance.
The launch comes amid the state government’s ongoing building and infrastructure projects under Okpebholo, who assumed office in November 2024.
The state government said the platform would be used to monitor the implementation of building projects and provide information on the condition of public buildings.
