*FEMD Officials Battling To Ensure Noone Is Trapped In Rubble
*Fire Engulfs Car Mart
By Felix Durumbah, Abuja
Another building has collapsed in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
In the latest incident, today, a two-storey building under construction in Jikwoyi, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), caved in, leaving at least six persons injured.
It is not the first time in recent time that such incidents have occurred in the nation’s capital, a place designed to show and lead by first class example in all facets of human endeavor,for other parts of the country to follow.
On 2 February this year, a building also collapsed in the upscale Gwarinpa axis of Abuja, initially trapping about 40 persons, with the spate raising questions and concerns about integrity of enforcement on relevant building protocols as well as monitoring of type and strength of materials used in the projects,by appropriate agencies/officials of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
Rescue efforts are reportedly ongoing to ensure no person is trapped in the rubble in the Jikwoyi incident, according to a press statement by Head of Public Affairs, FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Nkechi Isa.
She disclosed that the building collapsed about 11am while workers were on site.
Isa added: “FEMD Search and Rescue Team says that 17 workers were on the upper floor of the building when it collapsed injuring 5 workers and trapping a lone male who was at the ground level of the building.
“The injured workers and the rescued trapped male have been taken to the Sisters of Nativity Hospital in Jikwoyi and are said to be responding to treatment.
“The FCT Emergency Management Department, National Emergency Management Agency, Department of Development Control, Engineering Department FCDA, Civil Defence Federal Fire Service and the FCT Police Command are at the incident scene.
“Meanwhile, excavation of the incident scene is still ongoing until ground zero to ensure that no person is trapped in the rubble.
Fire Engulfs Car Mart
“In another development, a fire outbreak has engulfed a section of a car sales and service center along the Kubwa Expressway in Bwari Area Council.
“The fire incident occurred at about 12 noon today at the premises of Car Earloha Chery Center by Arab Junction,Kubwa.
“According to FEMD Head of Search and Rescue Team, Mr Monday Adie, no life was lost to the incident.
“Staff of the center were said to have immediately removed vehicles within the center after failing to contain the fire using extinguishers.
“A section of a building in the complex was completely razed.
“Equipment and documents were destroyed by the fire.
“The cause of the fire has been attributed to electrical faults.
“FEMD, Federal Fire Service,FCT Fire Service and the FCT Police Command were at the incident scene.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: FEMD staff members at the Jikwoyi site where the building collapsed.
