BY Jemilat Nasiru
A bridge inside the children’s amusement park at the Ikemba Ojukwu Centre in Owerri, Imo state capital, has reportedly collapsed.
The bridge caved in on Tuesday evening after a heavy downpour, NAN reports.
It was built by the administration of Rochas Okorocha, the state governor, and serves as a tourism site.
There were no casualties from the incident.
Ogechi Ololo, the state commissioner for happiness and purpose fulfilment, told NAN that she was yet to be briefed on the cause of the incident.
A witness identified as Mary Nlemadim said: “It is unfortunate that this is happening in the state, especially at a place that is supposed to be a recreation centre.
“I thank God that it happened in the night when people were not around; otherwise, there might have been casualties.
“I urge the state government and engineers working on construction projects in the state to be more dedicated and thorough.”
NAN also quoted Okechukwu Uba, an engineer, to have said: “There is need to critically look at all the construction projects going on in the state.
“This is necessary to avoid unnecessary waste of resources, time and human capacity.
“These projects need to get proper approval from professional hands or bodies; they also need to be properly supervised by qualified and experienced personnel.
“Again, they have to be done systematically and not many things at the same time.
“These projects need to be finished up in a tidy manner and subjected to stress tests where necessary, before being opened to the public.”
Emeka Ugoanyawu, the state chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), had reportedly warned against the purported substandard engineering work in the state.
Also, Kashim Ali, national president of Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), was said to have recently faulted the quality of a flyover constructed by the Okorocha administration, located at Orji.
Ali reportedly urged Okorocha to stop work on the flyover.
A similar incident had occurred in March 2015, when the governor paid a visit to the Heroes children’s park.
Okorocha was said to have stopped over at the park to interact with some students of Development Comprehensive Secondary School, Owerri.
The governor took the students up the bridge to “teach and inspire” them on how to become leaders.
No sooner had he started his lecture when the bridge caved in, causing fear and panic among the students.
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