*Uncertainty Over Possible Casualties, Though FCTA Emergency Agency Issues Ambiguous Press Statement
By Felix Durumbah, Abuja
About 10 days after a one-storey building collapsed in Kubwa, near Abuja, initially trapping two persons, who were rescued later, nother building has caved in in the nation’s capital.
There is still uncertainty as to whether anyone is under the rubble of the three-storey building which collapsed this evening close to the heart of Abuja, Wuse Zone 4, as emergency responders and others were at the scene frantically working.
The recent spate of collapsed structures in the nation’s capital has sparked sharp criticism of the integrity of monitoring processes, the commitment of monitoring officials, the strength of materials used in building construction and compliance to regulations.
Worried residents and other Nigerians say frequent collapse of structures in Abuja emits negative signals to foreign investors wishing to set up in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and casts a dark shadow on the supervision of the relevant monitoring organ by higher-ups in the FCT Minister’s circle.
Confirming today’s collapse, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), in a statement by its Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, a copy of which was made available to People&Politics tonight, disclosed that it received a distress call about the incident at about 7.20pm, adding that emergency responders had mobilized to the incident scene.
The statement read:”Meanwhile emergency responders continue search and rescue operations as they await the arrival of an excavator to enhance the search efforts.
“Details regarding the number of persons affected and the cause of the collapse are still emerging.
“Members of the public are advised to remain calm and stay away from the scene to allow emergency responders and security personnel unrestricted access for rescue and response operations.
“More details as they emerge.”
Recent History Of Building Collapse
Last May, a three-storey building under construction fell in Durumi 3, close to Gudu Market, snuffing lives out of five persons and injuring many.
Apparently appalled, FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, ordered an investigation and the immediate sealing of the building site.
Reports say between 2008 and 2024, there have been about 30 cases of collapsed buildings in FCT, with no less than 57 persons dead in the process.
Reports pointed fingers to possible corruption in terms of use of inferior construction materials, irrespective of the clear danger to human lives.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Part of the scene of tonight’s collapse in Wuse Zone 4.
