In a tragic incident, a two-storey building on Lagos Street in Garki Village, Abuja, came crashing down on a rainy Wednesday evening. Of the 39 residents, two were confirmed dead, while 37 survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals.
The rescue efforts faced challenges as the collapse happened late at night, during intense rainfall. Initial attempts to rescue were solely by hand due to the unavailability of excavation equipment.
The incident drew the attention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who arrived at the scene to assess the situation. Expressing his distress, Wike demanded the arrest of the building’s owner and emphasized the importance of following standard building codes and protocols. He also raised concerns about the delayed resettlement in the region and pledged that the government would cover the medical expenses of the victims.
Dr. Abbas Idriss, from the FCT Emergency Management Agency, reported the rescue of 37 individuals, although efforts were hampered by the continuous rain. On the other hand, Mukhtar Galadima from the Department of Development Control stated the building lacked proper authorization as it was in an unplanned area.
One of the building’s occupants, Ms. Glory Perekeme, shared her distress over the loss of her business in the collapse, estimating a financial loss of about N5 million. She called upon the government for assistance to rebuild her livelihood.
