Building Collapse: Otti Seals Off Shopping Centre, Orders Integrity Test on Others

Governor Alex Otti has ordered the immediate evacuation and the seal off of the block of shops at the Shopping Centre Market, Aba, Zone 13 after it collapsed on Wednesday morning.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko on Wednesday blamed the past administration and ordered an integrity test be conducted on all the other shops in the market to guard against a repeat of such occurrence.

According to the report, there was no loss of lives when the building housing about 15 shops caved as someone raised the alarm of unusual cracks on the walls of the building.

Commiserating with the traders, Governor Otti said, “Reports reaching me from traders in the market suggest that this tragic and unfortunate incident is a result of greed by officials of the past administration.

“I understand that additional structures were erected on existing floors not minding the negative impact and structural defect such would have on the building.

“The consequence of that indiscretion is this avoidable tragedy of collapsed block of shops. We, however, thank God that there is no loss of life or injury to anyone,” Dr. Otti said.

The Governor also dispatched the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, and the Senior Special Assistant on Aba Rejuvenation, Mr. Uche Ukeje, for an on-the-spot assessment of the incident.