Collapsed Calabar 2-storey building: Govt. promises investigation; Blames sub-standard building materials

By Sixtus Uket (Calabar)

The Cross River State Government has expressed great concern over the collapse of a two-storey building on Saturday at Nta Eke Street, along Efio-Ette axis of Ikot Ishie in Calabar, capital of the State.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Eric Iso Anderson, made this known in a statement, Saturday, April 29, 2023.

Mr. Anderson noted that the State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has directed the immediate deployment of officials of relevant Ministries and Agencies to coordinate rescue efforts as well as provide medical support for the injured and security in and around the vicinity of the collapsed building.

“Preliminary investigations into the incident indicates that the cause of the building collapse is not unconnected to negligence and use of sub-standard building materials which had earlier attracted the attention of the State Ministry of Urban Renewal to issue the builder an advisory ‘Stop Work Notice’, which were all together ignored by the builder.

“Already, a number of persons trapped in the collapsed building have been rescued and have been taken to hospital for proper treatment.

“Government hereby notes and appreciates the quick intervention of the Member-elect for Calabar Municipality, Mr. Stanley Nsemo for providing the Excavator and emergency relief materials as well as collaborating with the Ministry of Health to ensure that ambulances were on ground to convey affected persons to the hospital,” the Commissioner stated.

He assured the residents of the State that government would ensure that full investigation is carried out on the incident to checkmate a recurrence in the future, “while at same time, guaranteeing the safety of lives and property in the State.”

“Accordingly, Government hereby urges all residents to continue to go on with their normal businesses in and around the area of the collapsed building and the State as a whole,” the statement further said.