The Ebonyi State Government has sealed a three-storey private student hostel at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), following its collapse due to prolonged heavy rainfall. No fatalities were reported, though students’ belongings remain trapped in the debris, and some students experienced minor distress.
The off-campus lodge was evacuated promptly to ensure the safety of residents. Chief Sunday Ekechi Inyima, the Commissioner for Capital City Development, led a team to the site, ordering the property sealed and initiating an immediate investigation into the cause of the structural failure.
The state government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Capital Development, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Ikwo Local Government Chairman, and AE-FUNAI management, is arranging temporary accommodation for the displaced students.
AE-FUNAI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Elom, expressed concern over the prevalence of substandard private buildings and called for stricter enforcement of building regulations. He praised the state government’s swift response, expressed gratitude for the absence of casualties, and extended sympathy to affected students. Prof. Elom also demanded a thorough investigation to hold accountable any contractors, engineers, or regulators responsible for the collapse, assuring students of the university’s full support during this period.
