A devastating incident has occurred in the Lekki area of Lagos, Nigeria, where a 30-year-old woman, Cynthia Oguzie, lost her life after an overhead water tank collapsed on her. The incident happened when the ceiling of her room caved in, causing the water tank to fall on her bed.
According to eyewitnesses, Oguzie had moved into the apartment just two months prior to the incident. A Facebook user, who identified himself as her brother, Chukwuebuka Nathaniel, shared the incident on his page, blaming the tragedy on poor construction and substandard materials.
“Beware of Lekki buildings and their water stands. This is how they sent my sister to her early grave. Thank you, so-called Lekki landlord, and your engineer for doing this type of water stand,” Nathaniel wrote.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and grief online, with many Nigerians calling out the developers for alleged negligence and cost-cutting measures at the expense of safety.
“Those engineers who don’t want to go through the mandatory training—most of them are not COREN certified,” commented Facebook user Felix Amehnawon. “Chai! What a pathetic way to die. May she RIP,” wrote Amaka Duru.
Others pointed out that the use of substandard materials and poor construction practices are common issues in the building industry, which can lead to such tragic incidents.
“There are specific pipes you should use for areas like this because of the salty water that rusts pipes over time. These people cut corners with cheaper materials just to make more profit. I hope someone pays for this so others will learn. This is sad,” stated Benedict Chinonso.
The Lagos State Police Command has yet to officially confirm the incident, but photos and videos of the tragic scene have gone viral on social media. A flier outlining the burial arrangements showed that Oguzie’s funeral service will be held on Friday, April 25.
As the investigation into the incident continues, many are calling for greater accountability and action to address the issue of poor construction practices and substandard materials in the building industry.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and quality in construction projects. It also highlights the need for greater oversight and regulation to ensure that building standards are met and that such tragedies are prevented in the future.
The state government has yet to react to the incident, but it is expected that an investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the collapse and to identify those responsible.
In the meantime, the family and friends of the victim are left to mourn the loss of a loved one, and the community is left to grapple with the consequences of such a tragic event.
