At least seven people were injured when a three-storey building under construction collapsed at Aboga, along the Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred around 1:30 pm on Saturday, January 4, 2025, while workers were on site. According to an eyewitness, no lives were lost, though seven of the nine workers present sustained various injuries. Two of the workers reportedly jumped out of the building as it collapsed.
One eyewitness recalled, “I saw the building collapsing. While some workers managed to jump out, others were trapped as the building fell.” Another witness, who wished to remain anonymous, added, “I heard a loud sound while inside my house. I rushed outside to see the building collapsing. Local residents and passersby immediately started using axes to break through the debris and rescue the victims before the government and police arrived.”
The authorities, including the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, quickly deployed excavators, a fire truck, and an ambulance to assist with the rescue efforts, as some victims were still trapped in the rubble.
Evans Bipi, the State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, visited the site and expressed his regret over the incident, describing it as a tragic start to the year. He attributed the collapse to the use of substandard materials by the developer, an issue he had previously warned about in other cases.
Bipi explained, “The building likely collapsed due to the use of 12mm rods for decking, which violates construction standards. Unfortunately, similar collapses in the state have been linked to inferior materials.” He also revealed that the developer did not have a government-approved building plan and ordered the site to be sealed until an investigation into the collapse is completed. The property owner has been summoned for questioning as part of the investigation.
Bipi emphasized the government’s dissatisfaction with repeated building collapses in the state, stating that they have resulted in injuries, loss of life, and significant damage. He warned that the government would no longer tolerate violations of building codes, particularly the use of substandard materials and constructing buildings without approved plans.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Commissioner, Emeka Kalu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday afternoon, noting that while local residents initially assisted in the rescue, officials from Ikwerre Local Government Area and the Rivers State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, alongside the Ministry of Special Duties, responded swiftly to the distress calls.
