By Fatima Oluwakemi Saka
On the August 23, 2023 a two story building collapsed, at exactly 11:45mp on Wednesday night, at the street popularly called Lagos Street in Garki, a local government area under Abuja Municipal Council of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had 3 person’s death, many injured and some hospitalist while lot of properties worth thousands of naira destroyed.
This Lagos Street is also known as Garki Village dominated by the indigene of Abuja; call Gbari, the land which had some dilapidated buildings. Our Correspondent investigation revealed that the land is owned by the government but compensation was done to relocate the indigenes from the environment, leaving people that hold business in the environment without compensation.
Findings also revealed the houses built in that environment were in the era of Military Administration, General Sani Abacha regime which is 30 year as at 2023. Most of the houses were built on the surface of the ground without proper foundation laid as that of the collapsed building.
According to a resident and eyewitness said most of the houses surrounding collapsed buildings are weak, adding that houses in the area are mostly owned by the indigenes.
Mr. Williams Kenrick who is one of the victims of the collapsed building, a businessman, who sell industrial gas, loses his goods worth thousands of naira, said the building is over 20yrs that showed the signed of weakness, describing the two-story building, had a plaza which is at the ground floor and apartment at the first and second floor.
“The federal government came after the building collapsed to marked houses surrounding the vicinity for demolition, the minister of FCT gave the residents 24 hours to vacate, before demolition. We are appealing to the government to come to their aid.”
Meanwhile, according to Mr. Williams, engineers came to inspect the environment buildings surrounding the collapsed building, finding out that the buildings are in good condition but should be set for renovations.
Also, Mr. Abubakar Abdullahi, who is a cleaner, also a victim, said as about 11:30pm he was inside the APC office at the ground floor under the collapsed building together with his brother who lose his life, that he was under the collapsed building for about 3 hours they were looking for us.
“I lost all my properties because that is where I live, after the accident I spent 3 days at the hospital with no assistance from anybody. We need help, we don’t know where to complain, we don’t know the landlord, and we rented the house through a caretaker that we paid five hundred thousands, after three months of renewing the rent, the building collapsed, have spent more than 10yrs in living here.
”After hearing the sound of the collapsed building in an attempt for him to escape the building fell on him, my brother lost his life with parts of his body destroyed, his name Murtal Yakubu, though we were warned about the building, because they were signs of the building collapsing. We are stranded; the government should please come to our rescue.”
A petty trader, Usman Abdullahi who is an eye witness said about 20 people are affected and sustained with injuries and 3 three people die, two die at the spot of the collapsed building while one die in hospital. ”We contributed money within ourselves to take care of the people affected. The government promised to assist us but upto this moment we have not seen anybody from the government to assist us.”
Mrs. Jennifer Obiokoye, who owns a saloon and spa, and also one the resident close to the collapsed building, described the scene as if were rapture that has taken place, she said from her own part and with a layman eyes the doesn’t any signs of collapsing, that is just unfortunate we have a business and a resident close to the collapsed building.
She said according to the information she got that the landlord of the collapsed building stopped collecting rents from his occupants on renovating the building; she added that the landlord has already made an announcement that if any tenant rent expired they should vacate the building, “thought some people vacate the building.”
“The government gave us 24 hours to vacate the building marks for demolition, no compensation, nothing…. nothing, nobody to take to……. I am even surprised you came to interview us, we need help. In my own case I own a shop here, and also my resident house is here, both places are marked for demolition, nowhere to fall back, just renewed in June, and it is worth millions of naira’s. We didn’t see it coming, it was just unforeseen circumstances. We are calling on the government to come and support us in their own capacity.”
Another eyewitness, said from the information they got the house is not in good shape, and that the landlord had already given quick notice for the tenants to vacate the building, that due to circumstances some tenants said the landlord should give them till December.
Ishmaeilm Abdullahi, complained about the government lapses, If the government will not give us where to reside or relocate our business, we are not moving, we have a right to live anywhere in Nigeria.
“If government wants us to leave, they should reimburse us or allocate lands to us, even capital to rent a shop, because we usually perform our civil right, during elections we come out to vote.”