Building Workers Dead As Building Under Construction Collapses

At least three construction workers are said to be dead after a structure that was being built along Isi Ewu Road in the Nbodo Community of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, collapsed on Saturday, February 4th.

Many of the construction workers were hurt, and at least three of them were feared dead after the two-story building collapsed on the employees on site on Saturday night.

Olufemi Ayodele, the NSCDC’s Rivers State Command’s public relations officer, who confirmed the incident, said a preliminary investigation had shown that the rods, pillars, and blocks used to construct the two-story building fell far short of the necessary standards.

The PRO said, “It is high time Nigerians began to take responsibility for their actions most especially when the life of humans is involved. The collapse of the two-storey building at Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area could have actually been avoided if standardised materials and the right specifications were used. Owners of buildings and landlords are hereby advised to be wary of desperate and quack building contractors who care only about their pockets and not the lives of innocent people.

“The Rivers State Commandant lauded the Chairman Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hon. Samuel Nwanosike for mobilising three pay loaders and providing the necessary logistics. That effort enhanced the rescuing of the victims and recovery of three corpses during joint rescue operations by NSCDC, National Emergency Management Agency, other security agencies and well-meaning people who worked tirelessly to salvage the situation.”

There are cases when substandard work, equipment or materials can be tolerated but certainly not in a building structure.

If this structure had survived the building stage and the house became functional, the story would have been different, we would probably be hearing that a family died in a building collapse.

The owner of the building should be investigated and brought into account. Also, the government should create an agency that approves building structures before they can be used, and if there already is, the agencies need to be more serious with their duties.

May the souls of those dead rest in peace and we pray for a speedy recovery for those hurt.