By Ayomide Otitoju
At least seven persons were injured on Friday following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction in Jikwoyi, within the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The incident, which occurred around 11:00 a.m., involved construction workers present at the site when the structure gave way.
In a statement, Head of Public Affairs at the FCT Emergency Management Department, Nkechi Isa, said emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene to ensure no victims remained trapped under the debris.
According to the agency’s Search and Rescue Team, 17 workers were on the upper floor at the time of the collapse. Five sustained injuries, while another worker at ground level was initially trapped but later rescued.
“All the injured workers, including the rescued victim, have been taken to the Sisters of Nativity Hospital in Jikwoyi and are responding to treatment,” the agency stated.
Rescue efforts involved multiple agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Development Control, the Engineering Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Fire Service, and the FCT Police Command. Authorities said excavation at the site was ongoing to confirm that no additional victims were trapped.
In a separate incident, a fire outbreak gutted part of a car sales and service centre along the Kubwa Expressway in Bwari Area Council.
The fire, which started around noon at the Car Earloha Chery Centre near Arab Junction, caused extensive property damage, though no casualties were reported.
Head of Search and Rescue at FEMD, Monday Adie, said staff initially attempted to extinguish the blaze but were unsuccessful. However, they were able to evacuate vehicles from the premises, reducing potential losses.
Emergency responders, including the FEMD, Federal and FCT Fire Services, and the police, were deployed to contain the fire and secure the area.
