THERE was pandemonium in Enugu on Thursday following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction in the area. The incident occurred at Nkpokiti Estate, Independence Layout, a highbrow area in the city.
It was learnt that two construction workers sustained injuries when the building which belonged to a top politician in the state caved in on the early hours of the fateful day.
The workers told reporters that they were working at the construction site when they heard a caving sound and jumped down from the upstairs, where they were working.
Some of the passersby who surged to watch the collapsed building blamed the incident on poor quality materials used for the building.
The state commissioner for Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), Chidi Aroh, who rushed to the scene of the incident, said that whereas his ministry took full responsibility for the incident, the agency had since August 2016, gave an order for stop of work at the site but was disobeyed.
He however disclosed that he has quickly dispatched a letter to the police, requesting for the arrest of one Engr Nwokike, who he said was in charge of the site.
Aroh also noted that he has ordered for stop of works on all buildings ongoing at the estate until all approval plans are verified, while pledging that such collapse will not take place again in Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration.
“This is the first time building collapse is taking place in Enugu State since the inception of this administration and I can assure you that by the grace of God such will not happen again,” he added.
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