By MONDAY AJOGUN

The Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion Onitsha, Anambra, on Tuesday inaugurated a 9-man panel of enquiry to investigate the cause of the Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha Centenary building collapse.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday reports that the five-storey building collapsed within the premises of DMGS on June 12, leaving one dead and two persons rescued.

Most Rev. Owen Nwakolo, Bishop on the Niger, told newsmen at the site of the building collapse, that the committee was given nine terms of reference.

Nwakolo noted that the 9-man committee comprising architects and surveyors was headed by Justice Pete Ohioto, while Mr Andy Obiamwu would function as secretary.

He gave the names of other members as Mr Ofodile Anieto, Mr Chukwunonto Igboka, Mr Peter Okpala, Mr Shed Omwuasoanya, Dr Azuka Onweluzo, Mr Samuel Akabogu and Mr Kingsley Ibekwe.

According to him, we expect your report within one month from June 18, being the date of the inauguration of the panel.

“You are therefore constituted as a panel of enquiry to investigate and determine the cause of the collapse of the building,” he said.

Nwakolo listed the terms of reference to include, examining the administrative and technical processes followed during the building to ensure that proper procedures were followed.

Others are for the committee to study the building plans to ensure that they meet the expected standards, enquire whether approval was sought and obtained from the approving authority for the building to proceed.

He stressed that they were also to enquire whether the architectural design of the building was done by a qualified architect registered with the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, among others.

On his part, Dr Alexander Ibezim, Archbishop, Province of the Niger, Bishop of Awka, thanked God that the situation did not escalate more than it did.

“God has done wonderful; it could have been a tragedy, a lot of lives could have been lost, but because God is with his people, God did not allow the wishes of our enemies to come to pass.

“Anybody seeing this knows that God is a living God, even to say that one life was lost shows that this God is a miraculous God.

“And shows the children schooling in this school and teachers are innocent.

“We, as a province, are standing with the Diocese on the Niger in this difficult time in whatever we can do. We are already praying,” he said.

Those in attendance are; Bishop Obiora Uzochukwu of Mbamiri Diocese, Bishop Prosper Amah of Ogbaru Diocese, Bishop Ephraim Ikeakor of Amichi Diocese and Bishop Ndubuisi Obi of Nnewi Diocese, and many priests of the Diocese. (NAN)

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