Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
The Imo State Government through the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) has sealed off the building housing Everyday Supermarket located at the Ikenegbu axis of Owerri, and shut down all the businesses sited within the plaza.
The decision was taken over structural defects noticed at the plaza by an Imo-based structural engineer, Mr. Kingsley Onwubiko.
The state government said it took the prompt response by sealing off the plaza to avoid incidents that can lead to loss of lives, and would unseal it, pending the proper integrity test of the building and possible reinforcement to be carried out on it.
An official of OCDA who spoke in anonymity said they acted upon an order by the Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to avoid any incident of building collapse that could lead to loss of lives and properties in the state.
The engineer who raised the alarm, Kingsley Onwubiko, described the move by the state government as a welcome development.
Mr. Onwubiko further maintained that his team are on the lookout for any structures with similar cases in the state, to expose them and avoid impending danger.
“Sealing off the property and waiting for the integrity test and assessment is the best thing to do. I believe that after proper assessment, restructuring of the failed sections of the building will follow suit or outright demolition to avoid any loss of lives and properties.”
