I’m a swift reaction to the report of a two-storey building that collapsed on Wednesday night at Lagos Street, Garki Village, Abuja, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has ordered the arrest of the landlord and called for in depth investigation.
The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FCT FEMA) said in a statement that two victims have died, while 37 others were evacuated and taken to the hospital.
The Minister on his inspection of the building, today, 24th of August 2023 gave the order and also asked the Permanent Secretary, FCT Administration, Mr Adesola Olusade, to pay the medical bills of those hospitalised.
WIKE also urged the Department of Development Control, FCTA, Abuja, to urgently provide modalities to bring succor to the affected residents, he also urged the residents to collaborate with government to aide a smooth process.
In his words:
“This is what we are talking about when people just build houses without due diligence to the minimum standard.
“This is why cities are planned, to forestall this kind of incident.
“I sympathise with those who lost their lives, and the medical bills of those in the hospitals will be paid immediately,”
Also, the Director-General, Abuja, FCT FEMA, Dr Idriss Abass, disclosed that they and other related agencies were at the scene to rescue more victims.
Abass said that efforts were still ongoing, “to ensure that no one is left under the rubble.”.
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Meanwhile, some of the victims who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that they lost their investments and properties to the incident and called for government support.
One of them, Ms Glory Perekeme, who operates a restaurant and a bar in the building, said she lost about N5 million, adding that she could not take anything from her restaurant.
“I closed for business around 10:00 p.m. and was on my way home when I received a call that the building had collapsed, and my investment was gone.
Another resident had this to say:
“I am still in shock, and I don’t even know where to start from.
“I really need assistance. The government should come to our aid so we can start over again,” she said.
Another victim, Mrs. Ann Anyi, who owned a laundry and sells shoes, said that she lost everything in the building.
“I have been crying since I got the news of the incident in the middle of yesterday (Wednesday) night.
“I am just hoping that when the rescue operation is over, I will be able to salvage something from the rubbles,” she said.
