ENUGU, Nigeria — Tragedy struck Enugu State on Friday, September 1, 2023, when a building at the Agric Quarters in Mgbemena, Coal Camp, collapsed, killing four children of the same parents.
The calamity has reignited concerns about the state of residential buildings in the region, as officials disclosed that the ill-fated structure was originally approved for animal husbandry but had been illegally converted for human residence.
Hon. Uche Anya, Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency, ECTDA, visited the scene shortly after the incident.
Expressing sorrow and shock, he condemned the irresponsible construction and noted that the building had 44 rooms, with a population of over 200 people living there.
“We rushed to the place as soon as we got the intelligence. Four children died in the episode. It was danger waiting to happen,” Anya said.
“Human beings should have never occupied the place. The construction was irresponsible.”
Anya lamented that the tragedy could have been prevented. “They claim that they are doing animal husbandry and poultry there, but it turned out that there are 44 rooms that human beings are occupying,” he explained.
“The fence line was unacceptable. Unfortunately, the people we lost in that tragedy are innocent children, which is very painful.”
The ECTDA Chairman announced that measures would be put in place to prevent such disasters from happening in the future.
According to him, the Compliance Unit of the agency will work diligently to ensure that structures erected by landlords and contractors adhere strictly to the approved plans.
“The agency would continue to sensitise the public on the need to live in a more conducive environment to avoid future occurrences of unfortunate incidents like this,” Anya added.
The heartbreaking episode has raised alarm bells regarding building safety regulations in the state, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and public awareness on construction standards.
As the community mourns the loss of these young lives, the tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of violating building codes and the dire consequences it can have.
