Collapsed Port Harcourt 7- Storey Hotel Owner Joe Allogoa In Shock

Daniel Efe & Dom Zimegapi

 

The Nembe Bayelsa state born Joseph Allogoa, popularly known as Joe Allogoa and owner of Swiss International Mabisel Hotel Peter Odili Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers state being the owner of the collapsed 7storey hotel located along Woji Road New GRA phase 2-port Harcourt is currently in pains and shock over the loss of lives in the misfortune that took place on Friday 23rd November, 2018.

Upon rescue of over 200 workers at the site of the newly constructed 7 storey hotel building, the workers were taken out by rescue teams from trans-national oil and gas companies operating at port Harcourt.

 

Joe Allogoa is a top businessman, a contractor with Shell Petroleum Development company SPDC East and he has his hands in many piles which include the erection of new 7-storey Hotel at New GRA.

 

Reports coming in from the rescue site indicate that about 66 people have been taken out alive, while 7 – persons have been confirmed dead, others are still trapped in the underground floor with debris covering them, few  hours after the collapsed, most of the trapped victims were said to have reached their  friend and family members Via telephone requesting for rescue assistance having been deprived of ventilation and water and food.

 

The Governor of Rivers state Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who returned from his overseas trip dashed to the location of the incident and called upon the commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Dr Zaccheus Adangor to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to look into the cause of the incident and ordered for the arrest of Joe Allogoa the owner of the collapsed building with the site Engineer.

 

As he said “I feel so pained that we have to face this kind of calamity at this time, I considerate with the families that have lost their loved ones who came to seek their daily bread. Govt will do all it can to give them the necessary support. I have directed the Attorney -General of Rivers state to ensure that all legal step are taken to do what is right within the ambit of the law” whoever that approved this structure and those involved in the construction will face the law. Government will take every necessary step to ensure that culprits are brought to justice.

Whoever is involved from the owner or the contractor or the officials of the state, they will face the full weight of the law.

 

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Third Day of Rescue operation of Collapsed Seven storey in Port Harcourt

 

COLLAPSE OF 7-STOREY BUILDING:

 Governor Wike orders arrest of owner, contractor government officials who approved plan 

 

…Commission of Inquiry to probe cause of collapse

…Property to acquired by state government

…Orders intensified rescue efforts

…38 persons rescued, Seven dead

 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has directed arrest of the owner of the collapsed Seven-storey building, the Contractor and state government officials who gave approval for the building to be constructed.

 

Governor Wike who was out of the country when the incident happened on Friday evening, also directed the State Attorney-General to set up a Commission of Inquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the collapse of the Private 7-storey  building located at Woji road, New GRA in Port Harcourt.

 

Governor Wike described the building collapse as a sad development, which has led to the painful loss of lives.

Our Correspondent investigation showed that the owner is one Joseph Allagoa, a Port Harcourt ‘boy’, a big player in oil and gas business but from the big Allagoa family from Nembe, Ijaw in Bayelsa state.

 

He said: “I feel so pained that we have to face this kind of calamity at this time. I commiserate with the families that have lost their loved ones who came to seek their daily bread.

 

“Government will do all it can to give them the necessary support.

 

“I have directed the Attorney-General of Rivers State to ensure that all legal steps are taken to do what is right within the ambit of the law “.

 

The governor ordered the immediate arrest of the owner of the collapsed building, saying that the State Government will bring all culprits to book.

 

“Whoever that approved this structure and those involved in the construction will face the law.  Government will take every necessary step to ensure that culprits are brought to justice .

 

“Whoever is involved, from the owner or the contractor or the officials of the state, they will face the full weight of the law “, he said.

 

Speaking when he led top government officials to visit the site of the collapsed 7-storey building on Sunday, Governor Wike noted that all officials of the Rivers State Government who defaulted in their duties will be sanctioned.

 

The governor was accompanied by his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and top government officials.

 

He said: “Government will take steps to acquire this property.  We cannot  allow this illegality.  If you look at masterplan of this area, a 7-storey  building is not allowed here”.

 

Governor Wike commended the construction giants, security agencies and non-governmental organisations for working with the Rivers State Government  to carry out  rescue  operations at the site of the building collapse.

 

It will be recalled that the 7-storey building at Woji road collapsed on Friday, with the Rivers State Government mobilising emergency services to rescue trapped persons.

As at Sunday, 38 persons have been rescued, while six persons have been confirmed dead.

 

The governor directed that rescue operations should continue.

 

As rescue operations enters it is third Sunday November 25, 30 persons have so far been rescued alive and have been admitted in hospital while Six corpses have been pulled from the rubble this morning at 4 20am.

 

 

Emma Okah,the Commissioner for Information and communications confirmed to our Correspondent that the search has been intensive.

 

He equally confirmed that the state government has finally identified the alleged owner of the collapsed property as one Joseph Allagoa,into oil and gas business but from Nembe, Bayelsa state.

 

Updates Saturday November 24 (3.05 pm)

 

Two persons rescued, one dead another in critical condition

 

Victims call close relations pleading for quick rescue from beneath the rubble

 

Tears roll as relations cry for victims calling from rubble

 

 

It has been helplessly exasperating for onlookers and rescuers as relations of those trapped in rubbles the collapsed Seven storey in Port Harcourt rush to scene of  claiming that their loved ones underneath the rubble called from their cell phones pleading for help to rescued quickly.

 

The heartrending information from different relations and at the scene further revealed the ill fated building had an underground  elicited emotions and tears at about noon today, Saturday November 24.

 

The latest however is that two more persons were rescued at about noon today. One dead and the other one in critical condition just as search and rescue continued.

 

 

Emma Okah, the Commissioner for Information and Communications confirmed to our correspondent in Port  that so far 28 persons have so far been rescued and taken to hospital.

 

Officials of the Rivers State Government and personnel of  emergency services worked all through the night at the  site of the collapsed 7-storey building at Woji road, New GRA in Port Harcourt.

 

Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Sir Kenneth Kobani, Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Engr Chukwuemeka Woke, Commissioner of Health, Professor Chike Princewill, Commissioner of Information, Emma Okah led government efforts up to 11pm last night before the Chief of Staff was detailed to lead the all-night efforts.

 

Engr Chukwuemeka Woke, Commissioner Shedrach Chukwu, Health Commissioner, Prof Chike Princewill alongside several personnel and  equipment of construction companies engaged in the delicate rescue efforts.

 

Unfortunately as at 5am on Saturday November 24, 2018, Information Commissioner, Emma Okah stated that the all-night effort was yet to lead to trapped persons being rescued alive.

 

However,  during the rescue efforts of Friday November 23, 2018, 28 persons were rescued alive.

 

Emergency services and construction personnel are still working through  the rubble in a delicate operation.

 

It will be recalled that the Rivers State Government has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the building collapse. The State Government said anyone found culpable  will face the full weight of the law.