Gladness Gideon
The Abia State Government has announced that it will cover the full medical expenses of all victims injured in the recent billboard collapse in Aba, the state’s commercial hub.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Wednesday at the bustling Salad Market junction near GIA Event Centre along the Aba-Owerri Road, left one person dead and several others injured. According to Dr. Victoria Onwubuiko, Director General of the Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSAA), eight individuals were involved in the accident, which was triggered by a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds.
The giant billboard reportedly crashed onto several tricycles, trapping riders and passengers underneath. Emergency responders and bystanders quickly mobilised to rescue the victims, who were later rushed to various medical facilities.
Dr. Onwubuiko, in an exclusive interview, described the collapse as “very unfortunate” and affirmed that the state government is fully responsible for the medical treatment of those injured.
“The State Government is already taking care of all the hospitalized victims,” she stated.
She revealed that the advertising company behind the collapsed billboard, a Lagos-based firm, has been notified and is in contact with state officials. Efforts are ongoing to engage with the family of the deceased.
The DG suggested that the structure, which had been erected about five years ago, might have failed due to poor construction or lack of proper oversight during its installation.
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“Maybe it wasn’t properly mounted. Apparently, there was not enough supervision then. You know some of these guys cut corners if not properly monitored,” she said.
In response, ABSAA has initiated strict safety enforcement measures. The agency now monitors billboard construction from the foundational stage to ensure compliance with technical standards.
“Currently, we supervise them right from the time they are digging the soil for mounting the billboards to ensure they get the required depth,” Dr. Onwubuiko explained.
She also announced a statewide audit of all existing billboards, with plans to dismantle any found to be structurally deficient.
“We will also check all the billboards across the state and anyone that is not technically sound will go down,” she declared.
The swift intervention by the state government has drawn commendation from residents, who are calling for sustained enforcement to prevent similar tragedies in the future.