…Building Collapses Days after Occupants were Evacuated
By Jude Atupulazi
A popular Hostel in Ifite Awka, Dubai Lodge, occupied by over 200 students of Nnamdi Azikiew University, UNIZIK, has collapsed. The collapse came few days after the Awka Capital Development Authority, ACTDA, sealed the building and evacuated the students living there. ACTDA’s intervention has just saved what could have been one of the worst disasters in Anambra State.
Few days ago, after a detailed investigation that showed massive defects in the structural integrity of the Dubai Lodge, the off campus student hostel in Ifite, Awka, housing over 200 students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, was sealed and shut down by the ACTDA.
The response team of seasoned engineers, it was gathered, made sure all occupants of the building were ejected without further delay.
At about 10:15pm, Wednesday night, the entire structure of the building collapsed with no single casualty recorded as at the time of this report.
The Awka Capital Territory Development Authority took a decisive action to evacuate occupants from a dangerously dilapidated building in Ifite Awka, Anambra State Capital.
According to the Media Officer of ACTDA, Ukpa Ewa Eke, the aim was to forestall imminent danger posed by the property to the occupants.
Addressing occupants of the structure, the Deputy Commander of ACTDA Development Control Unit, Mr. Ukachukwu Okonkwo, informed them that the major aim of the agency was to safeguard lives, noting that the building appeared to be on the brink of collapse.
Okonkwo noted that despite receiving eviction notices from the landlord, the occupants had refused to vacate the premises, hence, ACTDA’s intervention, aimed at averting any potential tragedy from the imminent collapse.
‘Our major aim is to forestall imminent danger of building collapse and save life and property. We learned through the caretaker, that the owner had issued eviction notices, but the occupants refused to leave as no measures were in place,’ he explained.
Okonkwo, who emphasized the urgency of the evacuation, said the enforcement team was on ground to evacuate the occupants to save lives.
‘We hope to collaborate with the owner to explore possible ways to salvage the building. If not, we will proceed with the full demolition of the structure, which poses a significant threat to the state and its citizens,’ he stated.
The twin structure, located at Dubai Lodge on Five Decking Street, Ifite, primarily housing students, showed severe signs of distress with parts already cracking.
The caretaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, applauded ACTDA for their timely intervention, expressing optimism that the agency possessed the necessary capacity and expertise to handle the evacuation effectively.
When contacted on the phone, the Managing Director of ACTDA, Mr Ossy Onuko, confirmed the collapse of the building and affirmed that the engineers of ACTDA carried out a structural and non-destructive test on the building which he described as an old lodge.
