A four-story building under construction for hotel purposes collapsed on Sunday in Independence Layout, Enugu.
According to the security man on site, six men were there, but one left before the collapse.
Addressing newsmen, the Executive Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency (ECTDA), Mr. Uche Anya, said it was a case of one of the recalcitrant developers who failed to comply with building codes.
Anya revealed that although the building was approved in 2021, the ECTDA had taken regulatory action against it by sealing the site.
“This property collapsed in the early hours of the morning. We arrived here around 6am. When we arrived, we met one of the security men, who said that six people slept in the uncompleted property, but one of them was not around when the incident occurred.”
“So, the government emergency services arrived, and we started rescue operations. Four people are in the hospital receiving treatment right now. I believe there could be one more person in there, and that is why you see all this rescue effort ongoing.”
“Usually, we have a habit of stocktaking, checking on every construction at every stage. When I personally led the team that inspected here, we found out that there were serious integrity issues and non-compliance with their 2021 approval.”
“I personally issued the first ‘stop work order,’ which, due to the violation, resulted in our sealing the place over the last six months. “So, I think within the last 30, 40 days, the representative of the owner, whom they say lives abroad, has been interfacing with us to remedy the situation. This is the process that we are still trying to interface on, and it came down.”
Anya further revealed that the developer’s representative has been handed over to the police to assist with the investigation.
Also speaking to reporters, the Director, Enugu State Fire Service, Engr. Okwudiri Oha commended the swift response by the Red Cross, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), ECTDA, the Enugu State Ambulance Services, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, and the mobilization of adequate rescue equipment such as bulldozers and excavators, which ensured the rescue of four persons.
Oha revealed, “Out of the four persons rescued, two sustained minor injuries and they were all rushed to a health facility for proper checks. “Then, as you have seen, we have been working. The last person we recovered was the fifth. It is when we get to a health facility that we will know whether he is still alive,” he stated.
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