PRESS STATEMENT BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SEADOGS, PYRATES CONFRATERNITY, SANCTA RIVIERA DECK (UYO CHAPTER)
 
THE COLLAPSED BUILDING INCIDENT AT IMAN STREET IN UYO.

On September 17th 2022, the news of a collapsed building at Iman Street in Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State sent shock waves throughout the state.
The structure, which was supposedly proposed to be a six-storey building, collapsed while still under construction, killing two people while several others sustained various degrees of injuries according to eyewitnesses.
On the spot assessment at the collapse site indicated that this unfortunate incident was allegedly caused by patronage of quacks as the alleged use of substandard materials by those contracted for the job manifested glaringly in the debris. 
The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, Sancta Riviera Deck ( Uyo Chapter) express our  deep condolences to those who lost their loved ones on that fateful day and call for justice to be served without delay. 
 We decry the poor and uncoordinated mobilization/response of the Fire Service and other agencies to the scene and call for machinery to be put in place by all relevant stakeholders for the immediate establishment of an Emergency Management Commission at the state level.
While we commend efforts of civil society groups, residents and other stakeholders who engaged in the rescue of victims, we condemn the prevalence in patronage of quacks in place of professionals for structural designs and construction projects by the people in Akwa- Ibom.  We also warn that persons who do not possess the requisite qualifications in the field of construction should refrain forthwith from putting themselves forward for such responsibilities. 
We support the decision to set up the Akwa Ibom State Government Panel of Enquiry to probe the incident.  We urge the panel to be thorough in their investigation of the cause(s) of this building collapse and ensure that those found culpable and those producing/importing substandard building materials are brought to book in accordance with the law. 
 We implore the Akwa- Ibom State Government to put legislation in place to regulate and carry out progressive assessments of elevated structures in the state as well as come up with clear policies and measures to totally eradicate quackery in the field of building construction. 
 On this note, we call on all civil society groups to join us in an intensive awareness campaign to sensitize the public on the dangers of engaging the services of quacks for their building services and vice versa.
We also call on the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and other relevant professional bodies to make available to the public a Directory for easy access to their pool of professionals. 
We seize this opportunity to call on Nigerians especially residents of Akwa- Ibom State to join us in the advocacy to stop quackery in all its ramifications and save lives.  
Signed:

Hon. Michael Ekpo 
Capoon, Sancta Riviera Deck 
(Uyo Chapter covering Akwa Ibom North West and North Central.)