Many Escape Death as ACTDA Evacuates Occupants, Demolishes Cracked Two-Storey Building in Awka (Video)

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) on Tuesday averted what could have been a major disaster in the Anambra State capital by evacuating occupants of a dangerously cracked two-storey building in Ifite Awka before pulling down the structure to prevent its imminent collapse.

The timely intervention by the Authority is believed to have saved numerous lives and properties, as the building had reportedly developed visible structural defects and was on the verge of crumbling before ACTDA’s intervention.

This was corroborated by videos and photos from the scene, which are currently trending on social media, showing the ACTDA enforcement team effecting and supervising the demolition exercise, as heavy-duty caterpillar demolished the compromised structure to avert the looming danger.

Confirming the development in a short post made available to journalists on Tuesday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Hon. Ossy Onuko, described the operation as another demonstration of the state government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and promoting public safety.

According to him, the Authority first evacuated all occupants of the building and marked it for demolition after discovering signs of imminent structural failure, before proceeding to bring down the building in a controlled demolition to forestall any catastrophic incident.

Captioned “ACTDA Saves Lives in Awka”, the post read “ACTDA today evacuated tenants from a building showing signs of imminent collapse in Awka, then pulled the structure down before disaster struck.

“This is what proactive governance looks like — putting lives first, not paperwork. Kudos to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for always leading from the front.”

Speaking further in an interview with this reporter, Hon. Onuko emphasized that the urgent decision to demolish the building became necessary after careful professional assessment indicated that the structure had become a serious threat to human lives and surrounding properties.

He stressed that the Authority could not afford to wait for tragedy to occur before taking action, emphasizing that preventive measures remain one of the cardinal principles guiding the operations of the agency.

According to him, the intervention reflects the Soludo administration’s proactive approach to governance, where the safety and welfare of residents take precedence over every other consideration.

The ACTDA Boss further noted that government agencies have a responsibility not only to regulate physical development but also to ensure that buildings within the capital territory remain structurally safe for habitation and public use.

Hon. Onuko also used the opportunity to urge developers, landlords, property owners and residents to always secure approvals before building, and to always subject their buildings to proper professional supervision and integrity tests, especially where signs of structural defects or deterioration become noticeable.

He warned against ignoring visible cracks, foundation failures and other indications of structural distress, noting that such negligence could lead to avoidable loss of lives and property.

He further cautioned developers against compromising approved building standards, the use of substandard materials or engaging unqualified artisans in construction projects, stressing that such practices often result in structural failures with devastating consequences.

The ACTDA Boss also called on members of the public to promptly report any building suspected to be defective or at risk of collapse to the appropriate authorities, assuring that maximum confidence would be guaranteed, while swift action would always be taken in the interest of public safety.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority to enforcing building regulations and urban planning laws without fear or favour, adding that the agency would continue to monitor developments across the capital city to ensure compliance with established standards.

He emphasized that ACTDA remains resolute in its mandate of creating a safe, orderly, aesthetically pleasing and globally competitive capital city where people can comfortably live, work, invest, study, relax and enjoy, with their safety fully guaranteed.

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