Jabi building collapse, one feared dead

At least one person has been confirmed dead and six others critically injured when an uncompleted three-storey building collapsed at Daki-Biu junction, opposite RCC headquarters,Jabi, Abuja, on Friday.

The structure, which went down around 1.30pm, had at least 18 people in it, mainly construction workers and food vendors.
As at the time of filing this report, rescue work was fully underway to rescue others trapped in the structure, as the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, had mobilised earth-movers, cranes and other rescue equipment to the site.

At least 11 others are suspected trapped in the rubble.

At least eight people had been pulled alive from the rubble and rushed to Wuse District Hospital, which received one dead and four injured persons whileothers were taken to Gwarinpa District Hospital at Life Camp.

Construction companies like Julius Berger and Reynolds Construction Company, RCC, also joined in the efforts with excavators and other heavy equipment.

Security agents were also on the collapse sight to prevent looting and security breakdown.

Speaking to Nigeria Pilot, a first responder on the scene who worked in the shopping plaza opposite the collapsed structure confirmed that the building was an old one which had attracted renewed interest from the owners, who suddenly decided to continue construction work on it.

Identifying himself as Victor, he said he was sitting in his office when he heard a very loud crash accompanied by noise of screeching twisting metal and screams.

Speaking to newsmen, director-general, Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute, NBRRI,Prof DanladiMatawal decried the practice of continuing construction work on old abandoned structures without appropriate tests.
He said, “Sometimes you see people knocking columns for a building that was unattended to for 10-15 years. You can’t revisit such a building without going to take a proper structural technical look to ensure whatever improvement you are going to put upon it will stand the test of construction.”