A worker has been rescued alive following the partial collapse of a building under construction in Abuja.
The labourer was trapped when a part of the building close to Taj Bank in the Central Business District, collapsed on Saturday, November 25, 2023, around 3:30 p.m.
Mr. Nkechi Isa, Head of Public Affairs, Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who made this known in a statement in Abuja, said that the victim was part of the labourers casting the first floor of the building when the entire cast fell on him.
Isa said that the victim had been rescued and taken to the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, Abuja for medical attention.
Isa added that FEMA was alerted around 4:00 p.m. after the construction workers’ unsuccessful attempts to rescue their trapped colleague.
“FEMA’s Search and Rescue Team and the FCT Fire Service responded to the distress call and were able to rescue the trapped man with the aid of extrication equipment and the construction company’s excavator,” the spokesperson said.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Mohammed Sabo, acting Director-General of FEMA, appealed to developers to always adhere to the building codes to avert recurrence of building collapse.
Soba, who was personally at the scene of the rescue operation, also advised construction companies and developers against using substandard materials and sharp practices during building constructions.
He urged developers to prioritise the safety of workers and the future occupants of any building under construction.
