Ebonyi Govt Evacuates 700 Students After Hostel Collapse Near AE-FUNAI

The Ebonyi State Government has ordered the immediate evacuation of more than 700 students following the partial collapse of a private hostel, Pentagon Lodge, near Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI).

The directive came after one wing of the six-block structure showed serious structural failure, sparking fears of imminent disaster.

Governor Francis Nwifuru, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, described the incident as “disheartening” and announced a full-scale investigation into the cause of the failure. He instructed the Ministry of Capital City Development to enforce strict compliance with building approvals and standards.

“It is unfortunate that we still experience such structural failures despite having skilled manpower and professional standards. This is a clear case of negligence and poor construction practices,” the governor said.

He called on professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), to step up oversight to prevent future tragedies.

Commissioner for Capital City and Urban Development, Chief Sunday Elechi Inyima, who led an inspection team to the site, revealed that cracks were reported by students before the collapse but were ignored. A whistleblower alert on Friday prompted immediate government intervention.

“What we saw was terrible. One wing had already failed structurally, and another block was tilting. We had to act fast to avoid casualties,” Inyima said.

The evacuation was carried out in collaboration with university management, the local government, and key ministries, and concluded by Saturday afternoon. The university has provided alternative accommodation for affected students.

A technical panel will be inaugurated on Monday to conduct integrity tests and investigate the structural defects. Regulatory bodies such as COREN, CORBON, and TOPREC have joined the inspection, and other hostels in the area are under review.

“All unsafe buildings will be sealed, and responsible developers or landlords will face prosecution,” Inyima warned.

No casualties were reported as of press time.