The Imo State Government has sealed off Everyday Supermarket and adjacent businesses situated in the Ikenegbu axis in Owerri Municipal Council of the state. The decision stemmed from concerns raised by Imo-based structural engineer, Kingsley Onwubiko, regarding structural deficiencies observed at the walls of the supermarket. The government swiftly responded by sealing the plaza pending a comprehensive integrity test and possible reinforcement of the buildings.
It was evident that officials from the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) had sealed off the entire premises and suspended all business activities within the plaza. A source from the agency affirmed that the directive to seal the plaza emanated from Governor Hope Uzodimma himself, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to preventing any incidents of building collapse that could result in loss of life or property.
Expressing concerns, Onwubiko commended the government’s swift response, hailing the decision to seal the property pending a thorough integrity assessment. He said there was a need for the government to conduct a comprehensive integrity test and should not stop at sealing off the property.
“Following the assessment, appropriate measures such as restructuring or, if necessary, demolition of the compromised sections should be undertaken to mitigate risks and safeguard lives and property,” he said.
Onwubiko reiterated his team’s commitment to identifying and addressing similar structural anomalies across the state, underscoring the importance of proactive intervention to preempt potential building collapse.
Everyday Supermarket, Others Sealed In Imo Over Structural Defects
