By Daniel Edu
The Rivers State Government has initiated an investigation into the collapse of a two-storey building that left at least four individuals injured on Rumuoke Street, off Okilton Junction, Ada George Road, in Port Harcourt. Governor Siminalayi Fubara, through his media aide, Boniface Onyedi, instructed relevant government agencies to promptly identify those responsible for the project. The state government aims to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of the incident.
A statement released by the governor’s office outlined the actions to be taken, stating, “The Ministry of Urban Development is to take immediate action by conducting site investigations and inspections. Destructive testing and non-destructive testing of the collapsed structural elements will be performed to establish their strength, including determining the yield strength of the reinforcements and conducting sieve analysis of the soil at the site to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the building collapse. If any parties involved in the project are found to be negligent, they will be prosecuted as a deterrent to others.”
Governor Fubara, who visited the injured victims in the hospital, expressed sympathy and assured them of their imminent discharge as their conditions were stable. The state government has mobilized earth-moving equipment to clear the debris at the site, which has been cordoned off.
Eyewitnesses reported that the building collapse occurred while laborers were working, resulting in some individuals being trapped. Tonye, an eyewitness, described hearing a loud sound that alerted residents to the incident, causing concern and panic. The cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, but it is known that some workers were residing in the building under construction.
A resident, who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons, recounted that a man was rescued from the rubble after community members rushed to his aid. The resident mentioned that workers had previously noticed cracks in the building and alerted their colleagues, but the warning went unheard due to loud music. Shortly after, the building began shaking before collapsing. The resident expressed hope for the recovery of the injured victims.
During an on-the-spot assessment, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Woke, confirmed the government’s commitment to investigating the cause of the building collapse.