The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has directed that all victims injured in Saturday’s tragic building collapse in Abuja’s Gudu district receive free medical treatment.
The directive came as emergency responders successfully rescued a survivor from beneath the rubble more than nine hours after the three-storey structure collapsed, leaving at least five persons dead.
The building, which was reportedly still under construction and located behind Gudu Market in the Abuja, caved in around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, trapping several workers — many of them labourers — under the debris.
FCT Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, visited the scene of the disaster and personally attended to the rescued survivor shortly after he was pulled out alive from the wreckage. The victim was later transported to a hospital for further medical attention.
Fasawe confirmed that Wike had already ordered that all casualties from the incident be treated free of charge in government hospitals.
According to the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD), rescue teams had recovered 16 persons from the collapsed structure by Saturday evening.
Out of those rescued, five victims were confirmed dead, while the remaining 11 sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to medical facilities including the Federal Medical Centre Abuja, Asokoro District Hospital and Maitama Hospital for treatment.
In a statement issued by FEMD Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, authorities disclosed that rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency personnel continued combing through the rubble in search of more survivors.
Several agencies were deployed to the disaster site, including the National Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Fire Service, the FCT Fire Service, the FCT Police Command, the Nigerian Army, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FCT Emergency Medical Services, and medical personnel from Wuse District Hospital.
Meanwhile, anxious residents and sympathisers gathered around the cordoned-off area as rescue workers continued efforts to locate anyone who might still be trapped beneath the collapsed building.
The incident has once again raised concerns over building safety standards, structural integrity and regulatory enforcement at construction sites within the Federal Capital Territory.
