A three-storey building under construction at Aboga along Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State collapsed on Saturday, leaving seven workers injured.
The incident, which occurred around 1:30 pm, involved nine workers, two of whom managed to jump to safety while the others were trapped under the rubble.
An eyewitness recounted, “Getting here, I saw the building collapsing. While some workers were able to jump out, others were trapped as the structure gave way.”
Another witness said, “I heard a loud sound while in the house. When I rushed out, I saw the building collapsing. People around started using axes to break through the debris to rescue the victims before government officials and police arrived.”
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Emeka Kalu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.
He noted that local residents initially led rescue efforts before authorities from the Ikwerre Local Government Area and officials from the Ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development and Special Duties intervened. Excavators, a fire truck, and an ambulance were deployed to expedite the rescue mission.
Speaking at the scene, the State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Evans Bipi, described the collapse as a tragic start to the year.
“It is unfortunate that we are beginning the year with this tragic incident, though no life was lost. This is the 4th building collapse we have witnessed in the state since I assumed office,” Bipi said.
Bipi attributed the collapse to the use of substandard materials, a recurring issue in similar incidents across the state.
“Preliminary investigations show that the building may have collapsed due to the use of inferior materials, including 12mm rods for decking—a clear violation of construction standards,” he explained.
He further revealed that the developer lacked a government-approved building plan and ordered the site sealed pending a full investigation.
“As a government, we are not happy with the repeated cases of building collapse that have injured people and caused avoidable losses. We will no longer condone violations of the building code, including the use of substandard materials and unauthorized construction,” Bipi warned.
The commissioner has summoned the property owner for questioning as part of the investigation.
The Rivers State government reiterated its commitment to enforcing construction regulations to prevent future incidents. Authorities urged developers to adhere strictly to building codes and safety standards to protect lives and property.
