Anambra sets up panel to probe building collapse, says owner ignored warning signs
The Anambra state government has launched an investigation into a building collapse that killed two people at an off-campus hostel. Officials stated that the owner had ignored previous warnings regarding structural defects and promised to prosecute those responsible.
Why it matters
This incident highlights critical issues regarding building safety standards and regulatory enforcement in Nigeria's rapidly urbanizing regions.
The Anambra state government says it has constituted a committee to investigate the cause of the building collapse in Amokpala, Orumba north LGA of the state.
Several persons were feared trapped on Sunday after the three-storey building, which served as an off-campus hostel for students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko , suddenly collapsed.
Addressing journalists in Awka on Monday, Ndidi Omega, acting executive secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said two people had been confirmed dead , while three others sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Speaking on Tuesday on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme, Chijioke Ojukwu, commissioner for physical planning and urban development, said the state government had set up a panel comprising representatives of professional bodies in the building and construction sector to “investigate the root cause of the building collapse so as not to give room for speculations”.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in