From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
The governor of Ebonyi state, Francis Nwifuru yesterday directed immediate relocation of 70 Students residing at the twin 3 storey hostel building which partial collapsed in Ikwo local government areas of the state.
The collapsed building was hostel accommodation to students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo. But no causality was recorded.
This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday and was made available to journalists in Abakaliki the state capital by the Chief Press to the governor, Dr. Monday Uzor.
The building which were in self contain apartment collapsed during the weekend, with over 70 students occupying the hostel.
Nwifuru who also directed immediately investigation to accertain the root cause of the incident, assured that anyone found wanting would face the law.
He further directed ministry of capital city development and other relevant agencies to henceforth step up monitor and supervising of building projects from foundation to roofing stage in the state.
“The State Governor Francis Nwifuru has mobilized the commissioners of the relevant Ministries to visit the scene and ascertain the level of destruction.
“The commissioner for capital city development and other relevant agencies have also sealed off the building and directed all students residing in the Hostel to vacate immediately.
“Again, in collaboration of the School Management, we were able to get them an alternative accomodations inside the school premises for the affected students.
“Also, the governor 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.
“The purpose of the governor’s directive is to ascertain what actually happened and by Monday, the governor would be brief by the panel,” the statement read in parts.
The governor however attributed incessant building collapse in the country to poor construction practices and flagrant disregard to building codes.
