Two buildings have collapsed at different locations in Owerri, Imo State.
The buildings collapsed at Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government Area and at Old market Road in Owerri municipal council of the state.
The separate two storey buildings which were still under constructions collapsed on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
No live was lost as no worker was at the sites when the structures caved in.
The General manager of Owerri Capital Development Area, Francis Chukwu, who visited the scene of the one that collapsed at Emekuku ordered a probe into the incident.
A statement issued from his office read “The determination and uncompromising position of the State Government through its Development Control Agency- Owerri Capital Development Authority – OCDA towards the enforcement of standards in building construction activities played out on Friday following the collapse of an ongoing two storey building along Old Market road Owerri which its construction was stopped by OCDA in November, 2022.
“Confirming the collapse of the structure, the SA to the Governor and General Manager of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA)
Engr Francis Chukwu disclosed that the Agency had earlier stopped the construction of the building during one of its routine operational activities after his led operatives of OCDA had discovered the inadequacies in the building construction process.
“He explained that the issues of building collapse remain the major reason why the Development Control Agency continues to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Developers adhere strictly to all safety standards in building construction process.
“The OCDA helmsman who maintained that the Agency under his watch will continue to ensure zero tolerance to the use of substandard materials in building construction, advised developers to not only make use of standard materials but also employ the services of certified professionals in building construction activities in order to achieve the desired goals that will avert the risking of innocent lives as well as waste of scarce resources brought about by building collapse.
“While confirming that no life was lost in the building collapse, Engr. Chukwu revealed that indepth investigation will further be carried out to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the building collapse with a view to avoiding such incidences subsequently.
