A mother and her 14-year-old daughter lost their lives late Tuesday night when a three-storey building under construction collapsed onto their home in Anata Anaba, Okpoko, in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. The incident occurred at around 9:45 p.m., and the victims were identified as Happiness Ugoagu and her daughter Chikaima, who were asleep in their bedroom when the structure gave way.
Son Recounts Moment of Collapse
Happiness's son, Chimobi Ugoagu, said he had stepped outside the house at the time, while his other siblings were in the sitting room. He told reporters that area residents had repeatedly raised concerns about the danger posed by the building, but the builder took no action. He added that an engineer had specifically advised that the structure should not exceed two storeys because the ground beneath it was waterlogged.
Official Responds, Orders Demolition
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, visited the scene following the incident. He said the building was erected without approval and that substandard materials had been used in its construction. Ojukwu disclosed that a stop-work order had been issued on the project before the collapse, and he directed that the building be demolished along with other unapproved structures in the surrounding area.
Ogbaru Local Government Area Chairman, Nnamdi Ifejika, also visited and expressed grief over the deaths. "This is a very painful and heartbreaking moment for us as a people. We cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing a mother and her daughter in such a tragic circumstance," he said.
Call for Investigation and Community Support
Ifejika called on residents to report unsafe buildings before they cause harm, and directed that the circumstances of the collapse be fully investigated. He assured the Ugoagu family and the broader Okpoko community of the local government's support and asked residents to cooperate with emergency and relevant authorities.
The collapse is the latest in a series of building failures in Nigeria, highlighting ongoing concerns about enforcement of construction regulations and safety standards. Authorities have emphasised the need for strict adherence to building codes and approval processes to prevent such tragedies.
