Mr Destiny Uguru, a native of Aba, Abia State’s economic capital, died on Wednesday after a heavy advertising billboard crashed on a tricycle where he was taking cover from the rain.
The incident occurred near the famed Aba Salad Market crossroads on the Aba-Owerri Road. Eight other persons were hurt and are currently in the hospital.
Our correspondent learnt that the deceased, who was from Izzi, Ebonyi State, left behind a very pregnant widow.
One of his relatives, Mr Chinedu Nwaibo, who observed the awful episode, stated that it occurred amid a downpour with strong winds.
He said, “When the rain came with wind on Wednesday, I and my kinsmen (community men) had to take refuge in his small shanty shop, not knowing that a tragedy was closer to them.
“I went into my small shanty with my brothers when the rain started. We were seven inside the shop when the heavy wind and rain got stronger.
“They complained that my shanty wasn’t a comfortable place for them to take refuge, that they preferred staying inside their tricycles near the fallen billboard.
“I refused to go into the tricycles with them. It wasn’t up for a long time; the billboard fell and injured seven people and killed one person.”
He stated that the deceased’s corpse had been deposited in a mortuary.
Nwaibo also pleaded with the Abia State Government to come to the help of his kinsmen, who were only out in the streets, struggling to make ends meet.
“I beg the government to please come and help us. Let them help my brothers, who are victims of this tragedy. They were only out here to make ends meet.
“They never knew that such a tragedy awaited them. The dead guy, Destiny Uguru, had two children, and his wife is heavily pregnant. He was a young man of just 27 years old.”
The MD/CEO of Abia State Structures for Signage and Advertising Agency, Mrs Victoria Onwubiko, stated that the incident brought a sad experience to the state.
After touring the ward where the victims were confined at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Onwubiko stated that the Abia State Government would pay all of the victims’ bills.
She emphasised that she had visited the survivors and that they were recovering as the medics did all necessary to keep them stable.
“The governor has given an order for everything to be done without looking back. There will not be any other death because, from what we’re seeing, they’re all recovering well.
“They’re about eight. Five are currently at the ABSUTH, while about three have been discharged.”
Mrs Onwubiko stated that the Abia government had contacted the family of the deceased and is currently talking to them.
Speaking on the quality of the billboard, she mentioned, “The board was erected about five years ago, and apparently, it was not well done. That’s why it fell.
“Going forward, strict methods are applied for all boards of such heights. No matter how low it is, it can still hurt people.
“Everything is being done to ensure that things are done properly. So, we will make sure that we’ll do more than we’re doing now.
“Apparently, nobody technically sound in the construction of such was there when they erected that billboard, or else it wouldn’t have happened.
“What we’re currently doing is that any site that must come up, all our technical people must be there to evaluate things before it’ll be allowed to stand. So, the government is doing all it can to ensure the right thing is done.”
Speaking on further measures to stop a recurrence of such an incident, Onwubiko said, “Structural inspection of every site will start henceforth. All those who have such billboards must submit the technical drawing used for the construction.
“If we don’t see such, then that site must come down. Besides that, we do an inspection of all the sites in the state to make sure that they’re sound no matter the height. Anyone that’s not sound will come down.”
