Ebonyi Building Collapse: Govt Orders Evacuation Of All Students In The Twin 3 Storey Hostel

Ebonyi State Government has directed all students residing at the Twin 3 Storey Hostel building, (Pentagon Lodge) to immediately vacate the building following the partial collapse of the building and the danger posed to the students.

Briefing journalists shortly after inspecting the damage done on the building and the properties destroyed, the State Commissioners for Capital City Development, Chief Sunday Inyima, his Housing counterpart, Mr. Francis Ori and that of Internal Security, Chief Eta Uka said that security agencies has been mobilized to ensure the students obey the directive.

They noted that the State Government has also provided an alternative accomodations for both the male and the female students within the school environment adding that from preliminary investigation, it is not safe for any student to spend another hour within the building as nobody is certain what will happen next.

“We must commend the State Governor Francis Nwifuru for his proactive stand on the building collapse. Immediately he got information on the collapse building, he mobilized the commissioners of the relevant Ministries to visit the scene and ascertain the level of destruction.

“We came here, first sealed off the building and directed all students residing in the Hostel to vacate immediately. We didn’t stop at that, through the collaboration of the School Management, we were able to get them an alternative accomodations inside the school.

“We have set up a panel of inquiry to look at the remote and immediate cause of the collapse. The panel is to also look at the welfare of the students that has been displaced. We have also commence investigation and Integrity Test on the building. We need to ascertain what actually happened and by Monday, we intend to submit the report to the Governor.

“The Commissioner for Internal Security has been directed to mobilize security agencies to ensure that no student is seen around that building. We can’t afford to loss anyone.

“It would be recalled that over 70 students occupying a hostel escaped death by the whiskers following the partial collapse of the 3 storey hostel housing them collapsed at Izzangbo Ohankwu Village, near the university in Ikwo.

The Hostel owned by a private developer collapsed following visible cracks on the walls and deckings which were not attended to by the owners despite reports by the occupants.

An Eyewitness who spoke to TopNews explained that the collapsed hostel abinitio trapped two students who were rescued following urgent intervention by first responders.

Reacting to the ugly incident, The Vice-Chancellor of the University Prof Sunday Elom lamented the manner private buildings are constructed without proper, supervision, monitoring and enforcement of building codes by relevant agencies, warning that if not checked , it may lead to further avoidable disasters.

He called on relevant government agencies to ensure strict enforcement of construction standards to ensure that buildings are properly designed and constructed to avoid indiscriminate collapse, which may lead to injury or loss lives and property.

Professor Elom therefore called on the Ebonyi state government to institute a full investigation into the hostel collapse to ascertain the probable causes of the collapse in order to punish anyone found culpable, and to serve as deterrent to corrupt regulators, contractors, engineers and others who may have cut corners, leading to the disaster.

The Vice-Chancellor further used the opportunity to sympathise with the students who might have lost or have their property trapped in the rubbles, and thanked God for preserving them, as there was no loss of life.

He further assured of his administration’s support to the affected students, directing them to liaise with the Student Union Government and the Dean of Students Affairs for proper documentation, and immediate support from the management.

“The Hostel does not belong to the University. Though it was housing some students as at the time of Collapse.