Alleged Collapse of EICC; Imo Govt Agents React, Give Account

Alleged Collapse of EICC; Imo Govt Agents React, Give Account

Divergent views regarding what happened after Monday night rain in Owerri, concerning the reported collapse of the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Conference Centre, EICC, Owerri, have brought out the side of government.

Since Monday night, all manners of video and online stories alleging collapse of the EICC flooded the internet.

Barely 24 hours after the incident, government agents are trying to offer a true position on the matter.

A government appointee, Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic and Creative Media in a statement tagged; “THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AT EIICC ROOF” disclosed that
it was a “Solar Panel Fitting Mishap” that occurred and Not Roof Collapse

Trumpeta obtained the statement which further reveals;
“In the past twenty-four hours, social media has been awash with a false narrative that the roof of the newly commissioned Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre (EIICC) had collapsed barely a month after its inauguration. Nothing could be farther from the truth. What actually happened was a minor on-site accident during the ongoing solar panel installation, mischievously twisted and exaggerated by an attention-seeking architect who has long borne personal grudges against the contractor handling the project.

“For clarity, the said individual once approached the contracting firm for inclusion in the building project but was politely turned down. Nursing that resentment, he saw an opportunity to mislead the public when a temporary mishap occurred during a solar panel fitting exercise and quickly rushed online with sensational claims of a “roof collapse.” His aim was not to inform, but to discredit.

“Here are the facts: the roof of the EIICC remains solid, intact, and structurally sound. The ongoing modernization work at the site involves the installation of over 300 solar panels by certified engineers. The initiative, championed by the administration of the #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma, is designed to make the facility energy-efficient and self-sustaining; an innovation rarely seen in public infrastructure projects across the country.

“During one of these installations, a heavy and sudden downpour, accompanied by violent winds, struck while the technicians were working at height. The force of the storm dislodged a few aluminium sheets and the mounting frames that held the solar racks. A section under installation suffered light damage, but no part of the roof caved in or collapsed as falsely claimed.

“Mishaps like this occur in work environments everywhere. They do not in any way amount to a structural failure or indicate negligence. The engineers on-site are promptly restored order, and all workers were confirmed safe.

“Yet, before a factual report could emerge, the familiar agents of falsehood who thrive on sensationalism took to social media, spinning wild tales of disaster and dancing around imaginary ruins. It is unfortunate that in their desperation to malign progress, they find joy in spreading lies rather than seeking truth.

“The EIICC stands firm: solarized, fortified, and renewed. No amount of propaganda will bury the truth or dim the light of progress that has come to stay in Imo State. This is a facility built to last, conceived with foresight, and now being upgraded with sustainable energy technology to serve generations to come.

“We must learn, as a people, to separate fact from fabrication and to resist those who peddle deceit for clout or revenge. The Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre remains one of the proudest monuments of our time — typical Hope Uzodimma’s signature — a testament to a government that builds, not one that deceives.

“We thank God for the safety of all the workers and for preserving the integrity of this great edifice. The truth stands tall over propaganda, and as always, Imo is working—the results are there for all to see”

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Imo Trumpeta

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