“Imo Film Academy Building Collapsed by Accident”, Says Commissioner

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News From The State, Uncategorized Saturday, November 29th, 2014

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Owerri

The Imo state government has dismissed rumour making the rounds in some quarters that the recent collapse of the state multi-million naira Film Academy in Owerri, was as a result of sub standard material used in the construction of the edifice.

Our correspondent reports that the building, located along Egbu Road Owerri, the Imo state capital, collapsed last weekend, barely one week after it was commissioned on 14th November, 2014 by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri, the state commissioner for Information, Engr. Chidi Ibe, explained that the building collapsed by accident and not as a result substandard material.

The information commissioner stated that the building collapsed because a trailer carrying heavy equipment fell on the building, thereby pulling it down.

According to him, “there was nothing like collapsed building. It was a trailer carrying a heavy generator and while trying to drop the equipment behind the Film Academy, one of the trailer’s tyres pulled and the trailer fell on the building.

“The impact of the trailer’s fall led to the collapse of the building” Ibe maintained.

He however, expressed surprise that some mischievous journalists went about publishing stories that the building collapsed as a result of its purported substandard nature without verifying from any member of the government.

The commissioner appealed to journalists to always endeavour to be objective and sincere in their reportage, especially now that the nation was seriously preparing for general elections.

On Governor Okorocha’s 2015 ambition, the commissioner said the governor was not so desperate to return back as governor of Imo State but said his only ambition was to become the president of the country.

According to him, despite the fact that the governor had set his eyes on the presidency, more than 90 percent of the people of the state want him to complete his second term and do more for the people of the state.