In less than a fortnight following the unfortunate building collapse in the Oduigbo section of Ochanja market, Onitsha, another structural disaster unfolded on Garden Street Fegge, Onitsha, Anambra State, as a five-storey building collapsed on a Sunday morning.
Chairman of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Chike Mmaduekwe, lamented the incident, expressing relief that there were no casualties, attributing the outcome to the partial nature of the collapse.
Mmaduekwe revealed that the approved plan was for a three-storey building, yet the developer deviated from the plan by erecting a five-storey structure intended for commercial purposes.
The site, now a scene of wreckage, saw the immediate deployment of an excavator for rubble removal and potential rescue operations for any trapped individuals.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, sternly cautioned developers to not only obtain approvals from relevant authorities but also adhere to construction terms to prevent the loss of lives and resources.
Soludo had previously mandated the demolition of all unapproved structures in the state. Despite repeated contravention notices, the collapsed building remained standing, defying the warnings issued by the Governor.