Two persons yesterday escaped death when the part of an uncompleted building in which they reside collapsed at Mafemi Crescent in Utako District, Abuja.
One of the occupants sustained minor injuries on his head and appeared dazed, while the other walked out of the place unhurt.
Our reporters learnt from sources that the structure belongs to a top Nigerian diplomat and was marked ‘danger’ as well as earmarked for demolition on July 25, 2012.
Commenting on the incident, Mr. Ishaya Isah Chonoko, coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja, said no lives were lost. He said only one person sustained minor injuries and was being treated inside NEMA’s ambulance.
Chonoko was heard on phone telling his superior that some occupants of the collapsed building were parking out of the place and there was the need for the development control unit to demolish the place quickly so that they do not pack back to the place.
A family consisting of a man, baby, woman and two teenagers were seen packing out their belongings from a section of the building.
Our reporters learnt that majority of those that live in the place are roadside car washers and some lamented over the sufferings they face daily.
While responding to questions from rescue officials on why they live in such a place, one stated thus; “If we had better options we wouldn’t be in such a place. We have a government that is so insensitive to the plight of the ordinary man in the country and do not care to provide low income houses for people like us,” he added.
Another occupant said they have been living in the place for over four years, adding that most times, people chase them away but they return after a while.
Some women spoken to said they also go out to work but don’t make enough to look after their family. “Whatever we make at the end of the day cannot get us a decent house and provide all the necessities for our family. So we had no option than to live here in order to manage and pay a token amount to someone who acts as an agent here,” a lady said.
A woman with some under aged children appeared worried and wondered where next her family would move to.
Later in the day, the building was demolished and leveled to the ground. Previous occupants were seen scampering for parts of the building which they said meant more than their belongings buried in the rubble.
One of them said, “This is very good roofing sheet. If I sell it I can make enough money and extra to replace the few items I’ve lost here.”
As some fought over who first picked rods, some others tried looked for other materials they could cart away.
According to another former occupant of the building: “It was as if God didn’t want us to die because as early as 5am many of us had begun leaving the building. This is unlike the 7am at which we normally set out. I guess this is what saved us.”
Our reporters learnt from sources that the structure belongs to a top Nigerian diplomat and was marked ‘danger’ as well as earmarked for demolition on July 25, 2012.
Commenting on the incident, Mr. Ishaya Isah Chonoko, coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja, said no lives were lost. He said only one person sustained minor injuries and was being treated inside NEMA’s ambulance.
Chonoko was heard on phone telling his superior that some occupants of the collapsed building were parking out of the place and there was the need for the development control unit to demolish the place quickly so that they do not pack back to the place.
A family consisting of a man, baby, woman and two teenagers were seen packing out their belongings from a section of the building.
Our reporters learnt that majority of those that live in the place are roadside car washers and some lamented over the sufferings they face daily.
While responding to questions from rescue officials on why they live in such a place, one stated thus; “If we had better options we wouldn’t be in such a place. We have a government that is so insensitive to the plight of the ordinary man in the country and do not care to provide low income houses for people like us,” he added.
Another occupant said they have been living in the place for over four years, adding that most times, people chase them away but they return after a while.
Some women spoken to said they also go out to work but don’t make enough to look after their family. “Whatever we make at the end of the day cannot get us a decent house and provide all the necessities for our family. So we had no option than to live here in order to manage and pay a token amount to someone who acts as an agent here,” a lady said.
A woman with some under aged children appeared worried and wondered where next her family would move to.
Later in the day, the building was demolished and leveled to the ground. Previous occupants were seen scampering for parts of the building which they said meant more than their belongings buried in the rubble.
One of them said, “This is very good roofing sheet. If I sell it I can make enough money and extra to replace the few items I’ve lost here.”
As some fought over who first picked rods, some others tried looked for other materials they could cart away.
According to another former occupant of the building: “It was as if God didn’t want us to die because as early as 5am many of us had begun leaving the building. This is unlike the 7am at which we normally set out. I guess this is what saved us.”
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