ONITSHA – The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) on Wednesday said it would investigate the collapse of an uncompleted four-storey building in Onitsha to forestall a recurrence of such incident.
The Chairman of the society in Onitsha, Anambra, Mr Emmanuel Nwankwo, told newsmen that it would investigate the contractor, the engineer-in-charge of the project and the materials used.
Nwankwo said the investigation would ascertain whether due processes of approval were followed before the commencement of the project.
He said some NSE members had visited the scene and were liaising with its headquarters in Abuja on the incident.
“We have taken statements from eyewitnesses and some surviving workers at the site of the ill-fated building,’’ he said.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, South East Zone, Prof. Peter Katchy, regretted that his team, made up of specialists in disaster management, was not informed early enough to prevent the loss of lives.
Katchy appealed to the public to always inform the society of such incidents to curtail the loss of lives and injury to persons.
“For three days running, the Red Cross mobilised its members from Onitsha North, Onitsha South and Idemili North local governments to the scene as well as to console the families of the bereaved,’’ he said.
The building collapsed in the premises of St. Christopher Anglican Church, Odo-Akpu, Onitsha on June 1.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society said four persons lost their lives in the collapse; three site workers and a church worker. (NAN)
