A tragedy has struck Rivers State, where a middle-aged man named Udeme is feared dead after the collapse of a two-storey building under construction in Ogbogoro Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
This incident follows the collapse of a three-storey building at the Iriebe axis just a week earlier, in which no lives were lost. Eyewitness Mr. Jonathan Obey reported that the building collapsed on Monday, November 4, 2024, while contractors worked on the second floor, resulting in one death and one serious injury.
He indicated that the collapse was likely due to negligence by the property developer, who allegedly used substandard materials and did not follow proper building regulations. The Rivers State Government has since sealed the site and declared the property developer, Vincent Nwoye, wanted. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, criticized Nwoye for failing to obtain a government-approved building plan and for prioritizing profit over safety. Bipi warned that this incident should serve as a lesson to other developers about the importance of adhering to building regulations.
He extended condolences to the victim’s family and the Ogbogoro Community, emphasizing that such negligence must not be tolerated.
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