Enugu – A three-storey building under construction
at No 16 Nnobi Street, Uwani, Enugu collapsed on
Saturday.
No casualty had been recorded at the incident.
Some of the witnesses who spoke to reporters said
that they heard a heavy sound as well as people
shouting at the early hours of the morning.
One of the witnesses, Mr Chukwuebuka Okonkwo,
said that when he heard the bang around 5.30 a.m.,
he ran out with the members of his family.
“When I heard the sound and people shouting, I
thought that it was a bomb blast and I asked
members of my family to run for safety.
“When I came out I saw that it was the uncompleted
building near my house that was collapsing,’’ he said.
Another witness, Miss Kanayo Enemkpali, said she
was shocked that a building nearing completion
could collapse in such a manner.
Enemkpali thanked God that no life was lost in the
incident.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for
Land and Urban Development, Dr Chukwuemeka
Ujam, said that government did not give approval for
the building of the house.
According to him, there is a design for this area and
the height design of the building exceeded the
design.
“The maximum height of the building here is three-
storeys and the owner exceeded the approval.
“We stopped the work on several occasions but we
discovered that they chose to build at night to beat
government’s order.
“I hope this serves as a deterrent to others who
disobey government’s orders,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Enugu Capital
Territory Development, Mr Ikechukwu Ugwuegede,
said that government would commence full
investigations into the incident.
He said the investigation would unravel if
professionals and standard materials were used in
the project.
“We will identify all the people involved including the
owner, the contractor and architect in the
investigation because from all indication, it is a clear
case of structural defect,’’ he said.
Ugwuegde said that his officers had not seen the
owner of the building as all efforts to reach him
failed.
A construction company, Arab Contractors, and the
state Fire Service were already on ground to remove
the debris. (NAN)
Source: www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/three-storey-building-collapses-in-enugu/