By Daniel Tyokua
A two-storey building under construction Thursday collapsed at 7th avenue, Gwarimpa Estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At least 40 labourers were said to be trapped under the rubbles of the collapsed building, while three persons were reported dead.
The Director, Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Muktar Galadima, told Journalists at the scene that rescue operation was on-going with combined team of several agencies, adding that over 20 persons have been rescued and taken to the hospital.
He said several workers were still trapped under the rumbles of the uncompleted building.
The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, said that while the council will not apportion blames to anybody, he however said that investigations will commence immediately to ascertain both the remote and immediates cause of the incident.
“We can’t blame anyone for now; the major thing is to rescue those trapped. After the exercise we will look into the cause of the incident,” he said.
One of the eye witnesses, John Edwin, said the workers in the site, especially labourers were conveying blocks to the top of the building when it suddenly collapsed, adding that over 40 persons were trapped under the rubble.
Edwin claimed to have lived in the area for several years, and has always known the place to be a reserved green area, converted into a building construction site.
Edwin urged relevant authorities to call the management of Federal Housing Authority to question, for illegally allocating Green areas for commercial complex.
Reacting, Head Public Affairs, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Kenneth Chigelu, said preliminary findings revealed that, “an approval for two floors was granted to the developer, but he decided to add an extra floor to the structure”.
