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A three-storey building collapsed in the early hours of yesterday in the Iriebe community, Obio-Akpor Local Council of Rivers State, during ongoing construction on its third floor.
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Preliminary investigations suggest the building was erected in a waterlogged area with substandard materials. The incident caused significant panic in the area, with witnesses describing the collapse as sounding “like a bomb blast.”
The Guardian learnt that Obio-Akpor Local Council Chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo, visited the site and ordered its immediate closure.
Expressing sadness over the incident, Ihunwo directed the unknown property owner to report to his office today with the site engineer for questioning.
“This collapse is unfortunate. We have closed the site and instructed the owner to provide the building approval from the Ministry of Urban Development,” Ihunwo stated.
He noted that it remains unclear if anyone was trapped under the rubble. He also condemned the poor-quality materials used in construction, stating, “You can see the kind of materials used here, which is why we are summoning the building’s owner for interrogation.”
In a statement, Ihunwo’s Chief Press Secretary, Ofonime Okon, disclosed that the council plans to collaborate with the State Ministry of Urban Development to confirm whether the building plan received official approval.
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