The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has visited the scene of the unfortunate building collapse in Oduigbo section of Ochanja Market in Onitsha South Local Government Area.
Three out of the five buildings under construction at the market collapsed yesterday evening, trapping several people under the rubble and so far, twenty-six people have been rescued with five deaths.
The Governor recalled that he gave an instruction that not one shop should be erected in any market in the state without the approval of the Physical Planning Board and his signature, promising to redesign the whole place, to restore sanity.
Governor Soludo, who was visibly emotional, condoled with the victims and their families and expressed his sympathy with the victims and promised to provide every assistance to those affected by the disaster.
He also stressed that such an incident is part of the impunity his government is trying to stop, cautioning developers against building without approved building plans and pledged to work with relevant authorities to ensure that such an unfortunate incident does not re-occur.
The Governor added that his administration will take inventory of all the markets in the state and promised that the developer will be brought to book, even as he said that similar ongoing illegal structures in Ose, Ogbo-Ogwu, among others, will be demolished.
Emergency responders have been working round the clock to extricate survivors and recover remains from the collapsed building, as some survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency medical attention.
The incident has sparked public outrage in the area, with people expressing concerns over the safety of buildings in the city.
Many have called for an investigation into the structural integrity of buildings in the city and for more stringent safety regulations to be put in place.
The governor acknowledged the concerns raised by members of the public and promised to set up a committee to investigate the incident, assuring residents that the government would take necessary steps to ensure that buildings in the city are safe for habitation.
He called on the public to remain calm and support the ongoing rescue efforts and praised the efforts of emergency responders who risked their lives to save others and urged them to continue the good work.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu, his Special Duties Counterpart, Barr. Beverly Ikpeazu Nkemdiche, Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, Chairman, Anambra Urban Regeneration Council, Architect Mike Okonkwo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Markets, Evarist Ubah among others, accompanied the Governor on the visit.
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