ACTDA Averts Disaster, Demolishes Unsafe Building in Awka
By Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige
The Anambra State Capital Territory Development Agency (ACTDA) has averted a potential disaster in Awka by evacuating occupants from a structurally compromised building and subsequently demolishing the property.
The intervention, carried out on June 17, highlights the agency's commitment to enforcing building safety regulations, safeguarding lives and property within the state capital.
According to ACTDA officials, the building exhibited serious signs of structural distress, including extensive cracks, sagging sections and weakened load-bearing columns. Following a thorough assessment by the agency's engineering team, the structure was declared unsafe for habitation.
Occupants were immediately evacuated, while demolition work commenced to eliminate the risk of collapse, preventing possible loss of lives and damage to surrounding properties.
Speaking during the operation, the Managing Director of ACTDA, Dr. Ossy Onuko, said the action aligns with Governor Chukwuma Soludo's administration's firm stance against illegal and unsafe developments across Awka and its environs.
He noted that urban renewal, strict compliance with building regulations and public safety remain key priorities of the administration's vision for a modern and sustainable capital city.
Dr. Onuko urged developers and property owners to obtain the necessary approvals, engaging qualified professionals before embarking on construction projects, adding that the agency would intensify inspections and enforcement activities to identify and address structures that pose risks to public safety.
Residents and property owners in the area commended the agency for its prompt intervention, describing the action as timely and necessary. Many noted that the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of compliance with building standards and the role of regulatory agencies in preventing avoidable tragedies.
As urban development continues to expand across Anambra State, ACTDA says it will sustain public awareness campaigns on safe construction practices while maintaining strict enforcement of building regulations, reaffirming that protecting lives and ensuring public safety will remain at the heart of its operations.
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