A tragic incident unfolded in Egbu Umuenem, Otolo Nnewi, Nnewi, located in the North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as a builder known as Aniefuna and two others met their untimely demise due to the catastrophic collapse of a multi-story building that included a penthouse. This unfortunate event also saw a relative of the builder initially trapped within the partially constructed structure, but fortunately, they were later rescued and promptly taken to an undisclosed hospital in Nnewi.
The dire situation at the scene was compounded by the breakdown of the excavator brought in for the rescue operation, leaving manual laborers struggling to assist those affected. Upon their arrival, representatives from the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Transition Committee Chairman of Nnewi North LGA, Engr. Chris Obiora, took stock of the situation.
Engr. Victor Meju, the Chairman of COREN in Anambra State, addressed the press after the recovery of the deceased. He elucidated that several factors such as an inadequate foundation, subpar concrete mixture, inferior construction materials, insufficient budget allocation, deviation from industry standards, and a lack of approval from pertinent regulatory bodies could all contribute to such a tragic building collapse. Meju also revealed that the site had been cordoned off, and the owner of the ill-fated building would be summoned for interrogation to assist in the investigation into the collapse’s root causes.
Engr. Obiora, the Transition Committee Chairman, emphasized the importance of involving certified engineers and other qualified professionals in construction projects. He stressed the significance of monitoring teams to ensure builders adhere to established standards, while acknowledging that the exact cause of the collapse was still under investigation, and collaborative efforts among relevant authorities were ongoing to unravel the truth.