Nnewi Building Collapse Raises Safety Concerns in Anambra

By Faith Ogbotor

A residential two-storey building has collapsed in Inyaba-Umudim, located in the Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, leading the state government to mandate structural integrity assessments on surrounding buildings.

The incident occurred on Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Chijioke Ojukwu, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, confirmed the collapse during a site visit on Monday.

He expressed regret over the incident, noting that there were no confirmed fatalities at the time of his evaluation.

However, he mentioned that the state government were still investigating to ascertain if there were any injuries or individuals affected by the collapse.

Advertisement

Preliminary investigations revealed that the collapsed building was poorly constructed and lacked the necessary approval from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

The structure was reportedly built against the perimeter wall of an existing three-storey building within the same compound.

As a precaution, Ojukwu stated that residents of the adjacent three-storey building would be evacuated while a mandatory integrity test is conducted to assess its safety for habitation.

“If the building fails to meet the required structural standards, it will be demolished”, he added.

The commissioner maintained that the ministry would enhance enforcement against unauthorized constructions and those violating approved building and setback regulations.

He also indicated that the state government would take action against similar structures that do not comply with planning regulations, particularly those built too close to existing buildings.

Advertisement