The National Emergency Management Agency has assured that search and rescue operations at the scene of the collapsed five-storey building on Odili Road in Port Harcourt will continue until every person trapped beneath the debris is accounted for.
Speaking with journalists at the site on Wednesday night, the head of NEMA’s Port Harcourt Operations Office, Dr Chidi Ogundu, said emergency responders remain committed to locating all victims following the incident.
He disclosed that four people had been pulled from the wreckage as of Wednesday night, with one confirmed dead and three rescued alive and taken for medical attention. Describing the collapse as regrettable, he expressed confidence that the combined efforts of emergency agencies and the Rivers State Government would lead to the recovery of anyone still trapped.
“Four people were brought out from the collapsed building. One dead, three alive. And the operation, this rescue operation as you can see, will continue until all the bodies, whether dead or alive, are recovered from these rubbles.
“We are continuing to work till the end of today, Thursday and beyond until everyone trapped there is all out, whether dead or alive like I said,” he stated.
Ogundu urged property developers to comply strictly with approved building specifications and regulatory guidelines, warning that disregard for construction standards often leads to disasters with devastating consequences.
“My advice to residents is that whenever they see structures like this going beyond a level they should raise the alarm. So builders must stick to the approval given to them when they are building houses.
“One of the major causes of all this problem is when somebody is giving approval to build a one-story you now go and build three or four, you will be causing more problems.
“Most times it goes back to zero or minus zero because when the building later collapses, the government takes over, you will lose everything. And where lives are lost, it goes back to minus zero. So it is better for people to adhere strictly to the instructions and also use real quality materials and not subs-standard standards.
“That the economy is very bad and that is why sometimes you see some people use more sand than cement, and it’s wrong and there is no excuse. When it collapses, you lose everything. So it’s better you follow and use the standard measurement mixtures and all the, uh, original materials to build your house, then live comfortably and feel safe,” he emphasised.
The NEMA official also pointed to unsuitable land conditions as another major factor behind building failures, stressing the importance of conducting proper assessments before construction begins.
“Most times what causes this is, if you don’t know the terrain of the place you are building. It might be a swampy area filled with sand. So you need to find out how the soil texture of that area is. Is it meeting the standard requirement before you start putting foundation because there might be a refuse dump before.
“And if it’s a refuse dump and people fill it and start building houses, it is bound to collapse. So a lot of factors are contributing to all this misfortune we are suffering. And now, as you see, it is taking lives. Money can be recovered probably with time, but life cannot be recovered. So the message is clear, get approval before building and stick to it,” he stated.
Emergency workers from NEMA, the Rivers State Emergency Medical Service, the Nigerian Red Cross, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Federal Road Safety Corps continued rescue efforts late into the night. Floodlights and additional heavy-duty equipment, including another excavator, were deployed to aid the operation and improve access to the disaster site.
