A perimeter fence at a construction site in Ademola Adetokunbo, Wuse II, Abuja, collapsed on Wednesday, killing two workers and leaving four others severely injured. An eyewitness at the scene stated that the workers were heard shouting just before the wall fell. Rescue teams were called to the scene immediately, and four people were rescued from the debris. Unfortunately, two of the trapped workers could not be saved.
The director-general of FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Dr. Idriss Abbass, confirmed that the wall fell on artisans working in the area. He stated that the building under construction was not the one that collapsed, but the perimeter fence of a building nearby. The cause of the collapsed fence was attributed to the contractors eating into the foundation of the UBA fence that eventually fell on them. The contractors extended their building to eat into the neighborhood wall, leading to the unfortunate event.
FEMA received a distress call between 10 am and 11 am on Wednesday, and they quickly drafted a rescue team to the site. The victims were removed from the rubble, and four people with different degrees of injury were taken to the hospital for medical attention. Abbass explained that the collapsed fence could have been avoided if proper approval had been obtained and if stakeholders like the Development Control and Engineering Services monitored the construction sites to ensure that proper procedures were followed.
The FEMA boss further emphasized that approvals for constructions should be given in phases, and construction companies should adhere to specifications for each phase. Giving blanket approval could lead to the use of substandard materials, which could result in avoidable accidents. In conclusion, he urged approving agencies to monitor construction projects in all areas to ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.