Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel yesterday inaugurated a panel of enquiry to probe last Saturday’s building collapse at Reigners International Church in Uyo, the state capital.
About 30 persons were confirmed dead while scores of others were injured in the accident.
Emmanuel urged members of the panel to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the incident and make appropriate recommendations to his administration.
The seven-member panel is chaired by Justice Umoekeyo Essang, while its members are: James Utiaruk, Essien Nkanga, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abibo, Prophet John Linus, Asuquo Okon and James Amiang,.
Mrs. Emem Victor Daniel of the Ministry of Justice is its Secretary.
The panel, which begins sittings on today, was mandated to: “investigate and probe the immediate and remote causes of the collapse building; examine the roles played by any person, institutions and authorities as well as establishing the consequences of such roles”.
Also, over 50 patients were discharged yesterday from the 10 hospitals and clinics treating victims of the building collapse.
Those discharged include the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh and the Chief Protocol, Edmond Uffang.
The Alumni Association of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), which lost some students to the accident, commiserated with the government, the church and the state.
President of the association, Prof. Gabriel Umoh, described the incident as tragic.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead and the fortitude to bear the loss by bereaved families.
Also, the Akwa Ibom State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday donated drugs to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) to help victims of Reigners Bible Church collapsed building in Uyo, the state capital.
The items were presented to the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Etete Peters, at the teaching hospital’s conference hall.