By CHARLES IWUOHA
A heavy windstorm caused by a down pour has collapsed an engine oil producing factory, at Umuohara community, in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The company, Joebros Global Limited, produces vehicle motor and diesel oil, as well as Dove Power engine oil.
The incident also affected a Jeep and a bus packed very close to the factory.
The owner of the company, Mr. Joseph Nwoku, from Nkomoro Community also in Ezza North, narrated that he heard a loud noise during the rainfall which made him to rush outside to see what was happening.
He said that on going out he saw that the factory had collapsed on top of his two vehicles and he was shocked.
“I didn’t know what to do. I was very confused and I started making calls to know who I can contact that will be of help.
“I called the house of Assembly member representing my constituency and narrated what happened to him, he told me to calm down and wait until the following morning. This morning I went to Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency to officially complain of the disaster.
“In fact, it was a terrible experience, but I thank God no life was lost. My children were inside their own apartment, while my workers had closed for the day,” he stated.
Mr. Nwoku said the factory cost him over N100 million to set up, adding that the place has been in existence since 2016.
He appealed to state government to come to his aide, stating that he suffered to set up the place four years ago and he has not recovered the money spent on the investment talk more of making profit.
He noted that the factory also engaged some youths from the community both on full time and part-time bases thereby creating job opportunities for Ebonyians
He said since the company has collapsed that those benefiting from it would be largely affected as they will be out of job.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Pastor Ken Ozioma Eze, who visited the incident scene, said they were there for two reasons, to on behalf of Ebonyi State Government sympathise with Mr. Nwoku and to carry out assessment of what has been lost.
”We are going to write our report to the state government that sent us and I do believe that government is going to respond to our report.
“But one thing I want to observe is that what government is going to bring may not be a total repayment of what you have lost but just something to cushion the effect of the damages done,” he assured.
Pastor Ken advised Ebonyians to always build with quality materials to avert building collapse most especially this rainy season.
He stated that experts should also be engaged before the building is erected, and during the construction so that they would give professional advice on the best materials to use.
Noting that apart from building collapse, that 8 out of the 13 local government areas in the state are constantly affected by flood, and as such they have continued to warn people not farm or live close to flood prone areas.
He said Ikwo, part of Abakaliki, Izzi, Onicha, part of Afikpo North and part of Ivo local government areas are going to experience flooding this year.
“As we are going into farming season, we have to make sure that we don’t farm around the flood prone zones.
“Those people that live very close to Ebonyi River, very close to the Cross River, among other places, they should make sure they don’t farm along those zones, and if you live around those flood prone zones, the place we have been warning the people against living in the past years, you have to make appropriate plans on where you can relocate to at least from July, August, so that when the rainy season is over you can move back,” he advised.
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