Structurally defective two-storey building demolished in Abia
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Government, at the weekend, demolished a two-storey building in Umuahia, the state capital, certified to be structurally defective, in a proactive move to save lives and property.
A rapid response team, comprising the Ministries of Lands and Housing; Power & Public Utilities; Works; and also the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), operatives of Nigerian Police Force, Abia State Fire Service, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), officials of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, as well as leaders of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), witnessed the reducing of the said building, located on Akanu Ibiam Road, about 200 meters from Government House, Umuahia, to rubbles.
The demolition of the building followed the alarm raised by its occupants who hurriedly evacuated the building on their own accord after visible defects were noticed on the structure sandwiched between two other buildings.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the demolition exercise, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, pointed out that the primary objective of the exercise was to save lives.
“The site was quickly cordoned off by UCDA, the road blocked by the fire service, and everyone in the surrounding area evacuated by the Nigerian Police in order to preserve public safety to ensure that no casualties were recorded.
“The initial efforts to strip the building block by block in order to preserve the surrounding structures was deemed unsafe, and quickly replaced with a swift demolishment of the building, while minimising the damage to surrounding structures,” Mr. Chukwumerije said.
Speaking also, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday, who affirmed that the present administration in the state believed in due process, thanked God that no life was lost, even as he enjoined builders to always engage the services of professionals.
The General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), Tpl Kenneth Agomoh, reiterated the Governor Alex Otti-led administration’s commitment to restoring the integrity and sanity of buildings in the state and encouraged the public to come forward with any information relating to defective structures.
Director of Information, Ministry of Lands & Housing, Josephine Ogwo, quoted Agomoh as vowing that going forward; the UCDA would be proactive in checkmating illegal structures in the state capital.
