One person has been confirmed dead after a building under construction collapsed in the Egbelu Mgbaraja area of Ogbogoro Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
An eyewitness who spoke on the incident said the building collapsed at about 2 pm Monday, November 4, 2024.
Several other people were also injured in the collapse which has been recorded as the second building collapse in the state within the space of one week.
The eyewitness noted that the building collapse happened while construction workers were working on its second floor claiming the life of a man identified as Udeme.
According to the eyewitness, substandard materials were used in the construction of the building.
“When we came, we noticed that substandard materials were used in the construction.
“The building’s foundation was for a two-storey structure, yet low-quality rods and insufficient cement were used. The decking lacked a centre pillar and beam, which ultimately led to the collapse,” the eyewitness said.
Speaking during a visit to the site of building collapse, the Rivers State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Evans Bipi ordered it sealed and declared the developer wanted.
Mr Bipi stated that the construction project was carried out without the necessary approval from the government.
He also confirmed that substandard materials were used by the developer for the building.
“This site is sealed, and the developer has been declared wanted. He must answer for using substandard materials that led to the loss of life,” Mr Bipi said.
