Tragedies in Abuja.

 
ABUJA—THREE persons yesterday lost their lives with nine others in critical condition when an uncompleted two-storey building collapsed in Abuja.
The building which used to accommodate over 50 artisans from various walks of life is located at 3 Ademola Adesuga street in Dutse Alhaji,Abuja. The building was said to have been abandoned for many years before it collapsed between 3.30am to 4p.m yesterday.
Mr Ahmed Tijani, a resident of the area confirmed that the building was occupied by more than 50 artisans such as motorcyclists, water vendors, and refuse disposal boys a.k.a  ‘Boula boula.’



Tijani explained that many of the occupants quickly ran for their lives as soon as they heard the cracking of the building before it eventually collapsed.
Three of them were, however, unlucky as they were trapped and killed while nine others sustained injury as they tried to escape .

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Public Relations Officer, Mr Yushau Shuaib, confirmed the incident and the deaths.
NEMA had reported the recovery of two bodies at the beginning of the rescue operations, but a third body was recovered and confirmed dead by rescue operatives as at the time Vanguard visited the scene.
The agency said nine persons, who were critically injured were receiving treatment at the Garki General Hospital, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The Chairman of the Bwari Area Council, Mr Peter Yohanna, said the building located at Ademola Adesuga Road, had been abandoned for many years by its owner after it failed an integrity test for approval.
Yohanna said N200,000  has been approved by the council for immediate treatment of wounded victims.
Mr John Efere, Chief Superintendent Officer, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in the Bwari Area Council, said rescue operation was still on-going for people still suspected to be trapped in the building.

COREN to sanction culpable engineers

Also commenting on the incident, Mr Mayas Adoyi, Director of Engineering, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, said  investigations into the cause of the collapse would be conducted.
Adoyi said engineers implicated in the construction of the building would be sanctioned appropriately.
culled from THE VANGUARD.