A three-storey commercial building in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, collapsed on Monday evening, hours after officials of the FCT Administration’s Development Control Department reportedly sealed the structure and ordered occupants to vacate the premises.
The collapse, which occurred in the evening, triggered a rescue operation involving emergency responders, including men of the FCT Fire Service.
The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) through its head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa,
said it received a distress call concerning the incident at about 7:20pm and immediately mobilised emergency personnel to the scene.
FEMD said eyewitnesses initially reported that there were no casualties, but stressed that search-and-rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency responders worked to establish the situation at the site.
The agency said responders were awaiting the arrival of an excavator to enhance the search operation and enable them to thoroughly assess the rubble.
Providing an update on the rescue effort, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Media, Lere Olayinka, said men of the FCT Fire Service were at the scene, while three ambulances had also been stationed there as the operation continued.
Olayinka further disclosed that the FCTA Development Control Department had sealed the building earlier on Monday and directed its occupants to leave before the collapse occurred.
The development raises questions over the circumstances surrounding the collapse, particularly the condition of the building before it gave way and the reason for the sealing order issued by Development Control.
However, the exact cause of the collapse and whether anyone was trapped or injured remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
FEMD advised members of the public to remain calm and stay away from the scene to allow emergency responders and security personnel unrestricted access to conduct rescue and response operations.
The agency said further details, including the number of persons affected and the cause of the collapse, would be made available as information emerged.
