Panic in Awka as Three-Storey Building Under Construction Collapses Near State Assembly
Tension gripped residents of Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Thursday after a three-storey building still under construction collapsed close to the State House of Assembly complex, sparking fears that construction workers may have been trapped.
The structure, located behind the Assembly at Okpuno, caved in suddenly around 11:40 a.m. while artisans were working on the roof. Witnesses said the collapse happened without any warning signs, throwing the busy area into chaos as bystanders rushed to assist with initial rescue efforts.
Although the actual number of people at the site could not be immediately confirmed, residents expressed concern that some workers might be buried under the debris. Rescue efforts were initially hampered by the absence of heavy equipment such as excavators, leaving volunteers to attempt manual searches while awaiting government intervention.
Officials of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the state’s material testing unit were among the first responders at the site.
Preliminary checks by COREN’s state chairman, Sir Victor Meju, suggested that a weak concrete mixture and possible foundation failure may have triggered the collapse. He described the incident as a “vertical collapse to rubble” and confirmed that the building had only recently been roofed.
Authorities from the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) later moved to cordon off the area. In a statement, ACTDA’s head of media, Ukpa Ewa, urged residents to remain calm, stressing that no fatalities had been recorded and that early investigations showed no evidence of anyone trapped in the wreckage.
“The public should avoid spreading unverified claims that could create panic. Our officers on the ground are conducting thorough checks, and so far, there are no indications of casualties,” the statement read.
Security agencies, including the police, were also notified. The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was not immediately aware of the details but promised to provide updates after confirmation.
Meanwhile, officials of the Ministry of Housing and the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority have been tasked with ensuring compliance with building regulations and preventing further incidents.
The collapse has once again brought attention to concerns about substandard construction practices in the state, where experts have repeatedly warned against the use of poor materials and disregard for regulatory approvals.
