By John Ikani
Tragedy struck in the heart of Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja on Thursday as a three-story building caved in, leaving at least one person dead and many others trapped.
The building, located on 4th Avenue near H-Medix, collapsed at around 11am yesterday.
Rescue workers led by the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FCT-FEMA) have been working diligently to evacuate those who are still trapped under the rubble.
According to the latest update from the FCT-FEMA, 19 individuals have been rescued with one confirmed dead.
The victims have been transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment, including Wuse, Gwarimpa, Asokoro district hospitals, and the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi.
The cause of the collapse remains unknown, and the agency is still working to determine the extent of the damage and the number of people affected.
What you should know
Building collapses are common in Africa’s most populous nation, where millions live in dilapidated structures and construction standards are often flouted.
The standards of buildings have been in the spotlight since a high-rise building under construction collapsed in Lagos in November 2021, killing at least 45 people.
Bad workmanship, low-quality materials, and corruption to bypass official oversight are often blamed for Nigerian building disasters.
