The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last general elections, Peter Obi, has consoled the families of those involved in a building collapse in a market in Onitsha on Monday night.

Obi, in a press statement by his media adviser, Mr Valentine Obineme, expressed sadness over the lives lost, while urging the general public to adhere strictly to engineering and building standards for people’s safety.

A block of shops still under construction at Ochanja Market in Onitsha had collapsed on Monday night, killing about six persons, while over 20 were rescued.

Obi said: “I firmly believe that building collapses will be a thing of the past if we adhere to standards and procedures. Only trained, licensed, and professional personnel should handle building projects, and materials must meet project specifications.”

He lamented the tragic loss of lives and injuries sustained in the incident, emphasizing that the victims were individuals striving to make ends meet.

He expressed gratitude to those involved in rescuing trapped victims, and called on the state government to investigate the root cause of the collapse.