The Abia State government, through the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), has sealed a three-storey building located at No. 20 Kaduna Street by Uzuakoli Road in Umuahia, citing serious structural defects that pose a threat to public safety.

During an inspection on Monday, UCDA General Manager Kingsley Agomoh ordered all occupants to vacate immediately, emphasizing that the building was no longer safe for habitation.

“We took this proactive step to prevent potential loss of lives. Preliminary assessments show serious structural defects that, if ignored, could lead to a collapse,” Agomoh stated.

He added that further tests would be conducted to determine the severity of the defects and to decide whether the building should be demolished or rehabilitated.

Agomoh warned that any property found to have structural defects would face similar government action. He also urged property owners to avoid cutting corners and to comply with safety standards.