The Edo State Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Engr. Ethan Uzamere, has assured that before the expiration of the Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration, roads currently under rehabilitation and construction in the state would be completed to ease the movement of motorists and other residents of the state.

He gave the assurance while speaking with reporters during a routine inspection/monitoring of some road projects in Ovia North East and Ovia South West local government areas of the state.

Making reference to a portion of the road that has been reconstructed/rehabilitated, Ethan said, “as you can see, this road leads to different farms sites and it also leads to a general hospital. There’s also a few religious centres around there. There’s also a very big residential community around these areas. It actually opens up the inner streets of the community.

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“Issues affecting our roads are external factors. Coming now, you see that most of the reasons are because of burrow pits. People are taking sand from the pit and this is actually making our roads to fail. It is very important to know who did these burrow pits miners get their licenses from?

“They get their licenses through the Federal Government and some times, the state government is not even aware. They deal with the community directly. So, it is very important for us as a ministry to let the people of the locality know the effects of the mining activities. It is actually going to affect their community land.

“You are seeing a lot of erosion around the states. It is not just Edo but around Nigeria. One of the major reasons why we have this issue, it is actually man made, but with proper planning and organizations, we can see how we can control some of these issues.”

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Going further, Uzamere stressed: “I am optimistic that most of these roads will be completed before the end of this administration. The projects we are doing are not personal. They are for the people. I know the people that this road is affecting will also cry to the next government that they should continue with the project.”

Roads inspected by Uzamere during the exercise included the Iguobazuwa- Usen-Okoro/Ugbogui Road Project in Ovia South West Local Government Area put at a length of 13.22km. Others are Usen-Okoro Road whose length is 7.1km; Okemola Road which is 1.45km and Ugbogui Road which is 2.5km.

A two-storey building still under construction and housing traders and shop owners collapsed at the Eke Amawbia market in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Thursday.

Although the casualty figure has not been officially ascertained, it was gathered that lives might have been lost in the incident and many are feared trapped under the rubble.

Eyewitnesses said the incident happened at about noon, creating panic among some of the traders and residents in the area.

The eyewitnesses said the two-storey building suddenly crumbled, burying numerous traders beneath the debris.

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As of the time of filing this report, one person had been rescued and rushed to Amawbia Maternity Home for urgent medical attention, but many more are believed to be trapped inside the wreckage.

Some police officers have arrived at the scene to coordinate rescue efforts and maintain order.

Traders who witnessed the collapse blamed the disaster on substandard engineering work, alleging that the building’s structural integrity had been compromised.

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While some others blamed the collapse on the persistent rainfall since last week.

The spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development when contacted, saying two victims have been rescued and rescue operations are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, rescue operations are currently ongoing, with emergency responders working to search for survivors amidst the rubble.

According to The PUNCH the atmosphere at the market is tense, with onlookers anxiously waiting for news of the rescue of the people feared trapped in the building.

The incident has sent panic to the community, with many calling for an investigation into the cause of the collapse.

A teacher, Mrs Faith Nwoye, who flogged nine year old pupil to death, has been sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by the Court.

The teacher was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by a special court handling Women and Children related matters in Awka.

The incident happened in Landmark International School Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

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The deceased, Master Henry Okonkwo, has been buried in his home town, Igbakwu in Ayamelum Local Government Area of the State.

The pupil died in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Awka after being beaten to coma by the teacher.

Commiserating with the Okonkwo’s family, Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh expressed condolences of the Education family and State Government for the heavy loss.

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Chuma-Udeh, represented at the burial by the Director of Schools in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Ifeoma Onyeneke regretted that one of the State’s hopeful was gone in a manner that could have been avoided.

According to her, late Henry could not have died if he was enrolled in an approved school with qualified teachers.

She reminded residents Governor Chukwuma Soludo had declared criminal, the operation of illegal schools in the State.