The Abia State Government has debunked media reports claiming that several persons died when part of an ongoing building project inside Ekeoha Market, Aba, collapsed on Tuesday, insisting that no lives were lost in the incident.
The clarification was made on Wednesday by the Director-General of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), Mr. Uche Ukeje, whose agency oversees the development of the Aba regional area.
According to Ukeje, the partial collapse occurred when a section of the structure under construction suffered a prop failure, but swift intervention from emergency responders prevented further damage or casualties.
He stated that while the incident caused panic among traders and artisans at the popular market, preliminary checks confirmed that no worker or passerby was trapped or injured at the site.
“The reports circulating on social media about loss of lives are entirely false and misleading,” Ukeje said. “What happened was a prop failure affecting a section of the building under construction, and thankfully, no one was hurt.”
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Ukeje added that Governor Alex Otti’s administration has taken the incident seriously and has immediately set up an independent investigation committee to determine the cause of the failure and to ensure that safety standards are strictly adhered to in all ongoing construction projects across the state.
He assured residents that the state government remains committed to enforcing building regulations and preventing unsafe construction practices within Aba and other urban centres.
“The Governor has directed that a full technical assessment be carried out,” he noted. “We will hold any contractor or developer found guilty of negligence accountable. The safety of Abians and the integrity of our infrastructure remain top priorities.”
Eyewitnesses at the scene confirmed that the collapse happened in the early hours of Tuesday and that security agencies, alongside market officials, quickly cordoned off the area to prevent access to the affected section.
Meanwhile, construction experts and engineers from the Ministry of Works have reportedly visited the site for a preliminary assessment as part of the government’s ongoing investigation.
The Greater Aba Development Authority also urged residents to remain calm and disregard unverified reports, emphasizing that the government will keep the public informed once the investigation is concluded.