By Nkechi Eze
Tragedy struck in Area 8, Garki, Abuja, yesterday evening when a building foundation wall at an excavation site within the Radio House premises collapsed, killing a 25-year-old labourer and injuring another.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Nkechi Isa, confirmed that the incident occurred at about 5:50 p.m. According to reports, the victims were among workers excavating approximately seven feet underground when the foundation wall suddenly gave way.
Head of the FEMD Search and Rescue Team, Mr. Monday Adie, who led the operation, disclosed that two persons were initially trapped beneath the rubble. While one of the workers was rescued alive, the other was fatally injured before help could reach him. He added that the Federal Fire Service, upon receiving a distress call around 5:50 p.m., promptly mobilised its personnel to the site, joining forces with FEMD operatives to extricate the victims.
Reacting to the incident, the Acting Director General of FEMD, Engineer Abdulrahman Mohammed, expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased. He emphasised the urgent need for strict adherence to safety regulations at construction sites to prevent avoidable tragedies.
“The safety of workers and residents must never be compromised. We must insist on professionalism and adherence to regulatory standards in all building activities. I strongly appeal to developers to shun quacks and engage certified professionals,” he said.
Engineer Abdulrahman also underscored the importance of timely emergency response, urging residents of the Federal Capital Territory to make use of the 112 emergency toll-free line in case of disasters or emergencies.
The incident has once again brought to the fore the rising concerns about construction site safety in the FCT, with authorities reiterating their call for compliance with building codes and professional standards to avert future disasters.
