A three-storey building under construction collapsed behind the Anambra State House of Assembly, near Ekwueme Square in Okpuno, Awka.
The incident happened around 11:40 a.m. when the structure, which had four suspended floors and was at the roofing stage, suddenly gave way.
The collapse caused panic among residents and passers-by, with fears that construction workers might have been trapped in the rubble. Witnesses said the building fell without warning, adding that the number of workers present could not be confirmed immediately.
When officials arrived, the site was quickly sealed off. Bystanders tried to carry out rescue efforts, but the lack of heavy equipment like excavators slowed down the process.
An eyewitness said the structure made cracking noises before it came down. “Artisans were working on the roof when it happened. Government officials came later, but they said they were waiting for excavators,” the witness recalled.
Sir Victor Meju, Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN-ERM) in Anambra, confirmed the property was privately owned and had only been roofed last week.
According to him, a preliminary assessment suggests the collapse may have been caused by poor concrete mixture and possible foundation problems.
“The building failed completely and came down to rubble. Relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Housing and the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), are on the ground to monitor and coordinate rescue efforts,” he said.
Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said he was not yet briefed on the incident but promised to make enquiries.
In a statement, ACTDA clarified that their officers had not found evidence of anyone being trapped.
Ukpa Ewa, head of the agency’s media unit, urged the public to remain calm. “So far, no casualties have been recorded. We also advise residents to avoid spreading unverified information that could create panic. ACTDA will continue to enforce strict building standards in Awka,” he said.
