Ndi Imo | BUILDING COLLAPSE: OCDA SEALS PROPERTY, WARNS DEVELOPERS AGAINST THE USE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS.
BUILDING COLLAPSE: OCDA SEALS PROPERTY, WARNS DEVELOPERS AGAINST THE USE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS.
Following the report of the collapse of an ongoing two storey building at Road 5 Extension Umuguma in Owerri West LGA, Imo State Capital on Wednesday, Imo State Government through Owerri Capital Development Authority,(OCDA) has sealed up the property.
Speaking at the site of the collapsed building,the OCDA General Manager Engr. Francis Chukwu confirmed that nine victims who were trapped in the building collapse were rescued successfully.
He however expressed displeasure over the building collapse, pointing out that OCDA as an Agency saddled with the responsibility of building control will carryout indepth investigation to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the building collapse.
While directing that the owner and Engineer handling the building both of whom were not at the site as at the time of the inspection visit, to report to the Agency with immediate effect, the OCDA helmsman warned Developers against the use of Local Aggregates and Substandard materials in building Activities.
Engr. Chukwu went further to inspect other buildings around the area and directed the owners to report to the Agency for recertification while pointing out that the reverberation of the collapsed Building can pose some effects on the existing buildings hence the urgent need for the buildings to be recertified.
Interacting with one of the survivors, Mr. Eke Martins who narrated how he and his family escaped from the building collapse, hinted that the unfortunate incident happened in the early morning hours.
He noted that he managed to escape with his family members numbering eight, though their last child sustained injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
