A one-storey commercial building housing eight shops has collapsed in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, following days of heavy rainfall in the area.
According to reports, the building located at Ikenga Ogidi along the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Expressway near the Building Materials International Market, reportedly gave way on Saturday night during a downpour.
Although no lives were lost in the incident, goods and property worth millions of naira were destroyed.
When our correspondent visited the scene on Monday, the structure had been reduced to rubble, with parts of the debris already washed away by floodwaters.
Residents said traders operating in the building had closed for the day before the collapse occurred, a development many described as fortunate.
According to locals, the building housed about eight shops used mainly for the sale of building materials.
Residents blamed the collapse on severe erosion and persistent flooding in the area.
One eyewitness said the structure had shown visible signs of distress before it eventually caved in.
“The building had already started leaning due to continuous rainfall and erosion around the area,” the resident explained.
“There is an underground drainage channel running beneath the expressway. Unfortunately, the building was erected at a point where water from both sides of the road converges.
The location obstructed the natural flow of water, making the collapse almost inevitable.”
The witness added that residents had feared the building could fail at any time, especially after Saturday night’s heavy rainfall.
“We knew something like this could happen. The volume of water from both sides of the expressway, combined with the blocked drainage system, was simply too much for the structure to withstand,” he said.
Concerned residents have called on the Anambra State Government and the Federal Ministry of Works to halt further construction around the area, warning that other structures may also be at risk.
Another resident urged authorities to carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the collapse and assess the safety of nearby buildings.
Government officials visited the site on Monday to assess the damage and inspect surrounding structures.
One official, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said preliminary investigations had begun.
“We are looking into the circumstances surrounding the collapse, including whether the building received the necessary approvals and complied with structural regulations,” the official said.
He added that the state government would take appropriate action once investigations are concluded.
“The building failed during Saturday night’s rainfall. Given the persistent rains we have experienced recently, residents should remain vigilant and prioritise their safety,” he said.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
