The Anambra State Government has sealed off the site of the building collapse in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area, and launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident, warning developers against erecting unsafe and substandard structures.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Chijioke Ojukwu, who inspected the scene alongside two other commissioners, said preliminary findings suggest structural failure as the likely cause of the collapse.
Ojukwu announced the immediate closure of the site pending detailed investigations and structural integrity assessments. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening the enforcement of physical planning regulations and eliminating unsafe construction practices across the state.
According to him, the tragic incident will mark a turning point in the state's approach to building regulation enforcement, stressing that owners and developers of defective or non-compliant buildings will face appropriate sanctions.
He further disclosed that ongoing construction projects across the state would undergo more rigorous inspections to ensure full compliance with approved building standards.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Works, Dr. Okey Ezeobi, said technical investigations were underway to establish the exact cause of the collapse. He noted that a team of engineers and other professionals had been deployed to carry out a comprehensive structural assessment of the affected building.
Ezeobi assured residents that recommendations arising from the investigation would be implemented to strengthen Anambra's building control system, prevent similar incidents in the future, and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, said medical personnel and ambulances were immediately mobilized to the scene to provide emergency treatment for victims, adding that the ministry worked closely with other emergency response agencies throughout the rescue operation.
He praised the coordinated efforts of the state government and emergency responders, describing their swift intervention as instrumental in rescuing victims and ensuring prompt medical attention for the injured.
The Mayor of Orumba North Local Government Area, Capt. Casmir Nwafor (Rtd.), also commended the rapid response of the state government and emergency agencies, noting that their timely intervention helped contain the situation and minimize further risks.
Nwafor urged developers, property owners, educational institutions, and residents to strictly adhere to approved building regulations and safety standards, reaffirming the local government's commitment to supporting the enforcement of physical planning laws.
An eyewitness, Prince Ifeanyi Ezefunamba, said the building, reportedly occupied by students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, collapsed at about 10:00 p.m. after occupants noticed unusual cracking sounds and evacuated the structure moments before it came down.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), led by the Enugu State Head of Operations, Mrs. Priscilla Mbaekwe, alongside personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Anambra State Fire Service, and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), were present at the scene to coordinate rescue operations, maintain security, and conduct preliminary technical assessments.
Authorities confirmed that one person lost their life in the collapse, while three others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) and St. Michael's Hospital, Oko, as rescue and investigation efforts continue.
