When a two-storey building crumbled in Owerri, the Imo State capital, killing eight persons, it was not only relatives of the dead and injured that agonised; the entire state was jolted. OKODILI NDIDI reports
Residents of the weather-beaten two-storey building adjacent to the Owerri Area Police Command Headquarters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, went to bed on Saturday night without any premonition of danger. They hoped to wake up to prepare for church and other social events, but that was not to be as the gigantic building caved in before dawn, trapping the entire occupants in a mass of debris and twisted metals.
No fewer than eight persons including two babies lost their lives in the ugly incident.
The sight and shrill cry for help coming from under the wreckage evoked emotions. Bystanders cried uncontrollably as rescue workers battled to pull out the trapped victims. Some of them were pulled out dead, while others, including two National Youth Service Corps members were exhumed from the debris unconscious.
Officials of the Red Cross Society and the State Emergency Management Agency had a herculean task combing the dusty debris searching for occupants of the building.
The building is the fifth to collapse in the state capital in the last one month.
The victims were taken to hospital for treatment, while efforts were on by aid workers to rescue other trapped occupants.
The edifice, which is owned by GOVONS Veterinary Centre, a retail outlet for animal feeds and other agricultural products, according to sources, was originally designed to be a one-storey building before the owner added an additional floor.
The state governor, Rochas Okorocha, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Kingsley Uju, were at the scene for an assessment. The visibly agitated governor warned against the use of non-professionals and substandard materials in the construction of buildings in the state. He lamented that the non-engagement of engineers and other related professionals and the use of inferior materials remain the major causes of building collapse. The governor assured that his government would look into the cause of incessant building collapse in the state, regretting that before now a few other houses had also collapsed. He advised those who want to build to engage the services of professionals and ensure the use of quality materials, stressing, “People should stop building on dredges, gutters and even soak-aways”.
He said, “I was shocked to hear of this building collapse around this area of the city, precisely along Stadium and Egbu Road. In this disaster, six people were rescued while four persons were confirmed dead. I learnt that Owerri Capital Development Authority has initially sealed this structure against further work but the landlord stubbornly carried on with the construction, adding an additional floor to the existing storey-building.
“The next building which is also owned by the same landlord, suffers the same fate. So, I have ordered that the two buildings go down without delay to safeguard against further occurrence and also to serve as a deterrent to overzealous landlords and contractors who are involved in this type of mess”.
Speaking further, he said, “The state government henceforth will set up building departments separate from OCDA for standards and regulation. Qualified engineers are henceforth to sample, test and supervise every structure and their construction in the city and suburbs. We as a government can no longer fold our hands and watch landlords and unqualified engineers waste or endanger the lives of our people. All buildings must be inspected and given certification.
“Owerri being the fastest growing city in Nigeria is a good development but that is no reason for our people to build anyhow or anywhere for safety reasons. One of the survivors lost a child and I commend the commissioner of police and the Red Cross for their early intervention. Government will strive to see avenues to find the survivors a means of livelihood while we pray that God grants the dead victims a sweet repose”.
A woman and her husband, who were rescued, said three of their children were trapped.
Narrating their ordeal, the couple, who didn’t give their names, said, “We were still sleeping around 4.30 am when we were woken up by a loud sound like something was breaking and that was followed by another sound which was louder than the first one. It was then that I tried to check what was happening and before I could get to the door, the floor of our living room caved in and we fell into the other floor and the whole place was covered by dust and we could not see again.
“It was so dark that after the building went down completely, we could not see anyone, I was trying to move to look for my children and wife before I heard her crying when I tried to move over to where her cry was coming from, I discovered I could not move. That was how I squatted there until I was rescued. At last my children were dug out, the youngest one died on the spot, while the other two were taken to the hospital”.
Another lucky survivor, Uche Muruakor, a civil servant, said he was awake the time the building collapsed.
He said he was supposed to catch an early morning bus to Kaduna to see his elder sister, I was not sleeping when the building collapsed, I was awake about to begin my morning devotion when I heard the big sound and the blocks started collapsing before the building finally caved in.
“We were trapped in the debris for over five hours before the rescue workers came I was almost choking before I was pulled out. It was a horrible experience, I never knew I was coming to out alive. The luck I had was that my wife and kids travelled two days ago so were not around when the building collapsed. The only thing I lost is my property I thank God I am alive”.
Decrying the increase in building collapse in the state, the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Nigerian Institute of Architects have urged the governor to enforce standard in the building industry.
The professionals also called for integrity test to be conducted in all the building in the state suspected to be substandard in other to avoid future reoccurrence.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr Emeka Ugoanyawu blamed the growing cases of building collapse on use of quacks.
He also blamed state regulatory agencies and Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) for failing to supervise contractors.
It will be recalled that a three-storey building still under construction collapsed in Obinze Owerri West LGA in July 7, while another three-storey building collapsed in Umuguma Owerri West LGA on July 8 respectively.
Also on July 9, one-storey building collapsed in Oforola Owerri West and killing three people, while a hotel still u-der construction collapsed in Airport road Owerri North a day after that.
But the NSE boss urged the governor to summon emergency meeting of building professionals and proposed adequate sanctions for failed contractors.
Also speaking, State Chairman of Nigerian Institute of Architects Mrs Ndidi Okoro, said government has not lived up to its expectations by monitoring standard of building being erected in the state.
Okoro also a Fellow of NIA said a preliminary investigation showed that the building collapsed due to substandard materials used for the building and engagement of non-professionals.
“We have lost so many lives in less than three months because contractors have continued to compromise standard and government has failed to supervise them.
“We will soon come out with a stand to this whole problem as a group and we hope that government will implement our recommendations,” she said.
Secretary Nigerian Institute of Builders in Imo Mr Andy Osuagwu, blamed regulatory agencies and urged government to employ more professional builders to enable regulatory agencies perform the duty effectively.
“OCDA does not have enough professionals, how can they do the job well. What we are suffering in the building industry today is quackery and until the problem is addressed, we will still be where we are”.
Meanwhile, a Corps member who was among the victims rescued unconscious has finally died after a successful surgery.
The deceased Corps member simply identified as Chinedu died in an undisclosed hospital in Owerri.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Okey Ezike, who confirmed the incident, said the corps member, died about 4am, after he had successfully undergone surgery of the spinal cord /hip injury.
Ezike said, ‘’I can confirm that to you that he has died. He had. He had a successful surgery, but I think he died as a result of heart attack. The girl with him had fracture. They had internal bleeding.’’
