The Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, has ordered all storey building constructions in Onitsha to stop with immediate effect until proper certification from Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria, COREN, is obtained.

Mr Obiano gave the directive on Monday when he visited the site of another collapsed four storey building at Udi Street, Fegge, in Onitsha South Local Government Area, the second in less than three weeks after the first collapsed at Odoakpu Onitsha, killing four people.

The first four storey building collapsed on June 2 in the premises of St. Christopher Anglican Church. The building was still under construction and those killed were workers on site. It was indeed a sad day for many including this young man who lost an in-law in the incident.

The governor on arrival sympathised with the affected people and in a calm and subdued tone announced the setting up of a Collapsed Building Investigative Panel to ascertain the cause of the tragic incident.

Matching words with action, he did set up the committee chaired by Mr Peter Okpala and charged them to ensure that building construction in Anambra State complied with a specific standard in other to avoid tragic occurrences.

But soon after the committee was inaugurated, another four storey building under construction at Udi Street, Fegge Onitsha crumbled completely but workers on site were lucky as no life was lost except for two persons who were badly injured.

The collapsed building had reached roofing stage.

Fegge Onitsha is a densely populated area with high rise buildings to accommodate traders and artisans who are mostly the residents of the area as many markets and business activities thrive around there.

The enraged governor on arrival at the area gave ultimatum to builders anywhere in Onitsha to stop until proper certification was obtained from the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria, COREN.

He also made it clear that the state government would not compromise the life and property of the people because of lack of professional competence. “Certain engineering specifications must be followed in building projects,” he said.

Mr Obiano assured the people of Anambra State that the Quality Building Material Laboratory in Awka would soon be commissioned for the purpose of testing all building materials before construction to avoid incidence of building collapse in the state.

The governor’s pronouncements were received with chants of joy and solidarity by the residents of Udi Street and environs.