ABUJA, Feb 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — A building under construction at a market in Nigeria’s southeastern state of Anambra collapsed Monday night, killing at least six and injuring some 20 others.
A search was under way for other survivors at the Odu-Igbo Market in the state’s commercial city of Onitsha, the National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria said in a statement.
During a visit to the market on Tuesday, Governor of Anambra State Charles Soludo told reporters that the collapsed building was erected by a private developer without the government’s approval.
Describing the incident as “tragic,” Soludo emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling the issue of illegal constructions in the state.
Cases of building collapse are common in Nigeria, and local experts put the blame on aging structures, non-compliance with building regulations, and the use of substandard materials in construction.
MEANWHILE, at least four bodies were recovered after a boat capsized late on Monday in Nigeria’s southwestern state of Lagos, the local waterways authority said.
Eleven others have been rescued so far following the incident which occurred in the Ikorodu area, Wuraola Alake, a spokesperson for the Lagos State Waterways Authority, told reporters in the state capital of Ikeja.
The exact cause of the incident is yet to be confirmed, Alake said.
Boat accidents are frequently reported in the West African country, often attributed to factors such as overloading, adverse weather conditions, and operational errors. — NNN-XINHUA
