Uncompleted storey building collapses in Abuja

By Bukola Amusan 

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Vehicles moved past a seven-story office building after it collapsed in Lagos, Nigeria, last year. Photo: credit  AP

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Three trapped inside.

An uncompleted storey building on Wednesday collapsed in Apo Mechanic Site area of Abuja.

Although no lives were lost in the incident, the three men who were working at the site were trapped under the rubble.

Spokesperson of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yushua Shuaib, confirmed that three people were involved in the incident and had been taken to the National Hospital Abuja where they are receiving treatment.

An eyewitness, Paul Nwankwo who spoke with our reporter said the building collapsed at about 7am when some people were working on it. 

He said he was at a local eatery having breakfast when he heard a loud sound and rushed out to find that the building had collapsed.

“I heard a loud sound and rushed out, only to saw that the building had collapsed. I got there and at the same time, one of the boys who were working there, but had gone out came back and alerted the crowd.

“I rushed to my house to get a shovel and digger and together with the other people, we were able to rescue the three victims alive, even though two of them were badly injured,” he stated.

Nwankwo blamed the collapse on lack of expertise on the part of the building engineer, who he said had been suspected around there to be a quack.

“From the way the work was progressing, we knew this kind of thing would happen because the building did not look like what would stand,” he added.

Another witness, who preferred anonymity, said the foundation for the building had been standing for many years but that actual building commenced about one month ago.

“The boys resumed work this morning and were removing the wood they used to cast the pillars and decking when the building crashed on them. From what you can see of the rubble, it is clear that no iota of professionalism was put into this building.

“You can see the loose particles of blocks on the floor and the tiny irons which were used for the pillars,” he noted.