In a devastating turn of events, a building under construction collapsed early Saturday morning in the Sabon Lugbe area of Abuja, trapping at least 40 people beneath the rubble.
Emergency responders and volunteers rushed to the scene, desperately working to rescue those still trapped in the ruins.
The incident has left the community shaken, and people from surrounding areas have gathered in solidarity, hoping for the survival of those caught beneath the concrete and steel.
The Sabon Lugbe collapse has once again raised concerns about building standards in Nigeria’s capital city. In recent weeks, multiple reports of structural collapses have plagued Abuja, suggesting an urgent need for authorities to assess and enforce building regulations strictly.
Only a few weeks ago, another building partially collapsed in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja.
That incident, involving a two-storey residential structure near Cupid Hotel on Sultan Dasuki Way, resulted in the rescue of four individuals. But it left many questioning why such incidents keep happening.
Structural engineers have often warned that substandard materials, hasty construction practices, and poor oversight are primary factors contributing to these collapses.
Abuja, known for its rapid expansion, has seen a construction boom in recent years as the demand for residential and commercial buildings has grown. This surge in construction has, however, not been matched with an adequate level of scrutiny from regulatory bodies, according to some analysts.
The urgency of the current rescue mission in Sabon Lugbe is amplified by the magnitude of the building collapse and the significant number of people reportedly trapped.
Rescue workers on-site are using everything from cranes to hand tools, pulling back concrete slabs and digging through layers of rubble to reach survivors.
Family members and loved ones of those trapped waited anxiously nearby, some in tears, clinging to the hope that their loved ones would emerge safely.
This collapse, unfortunately, is not an isolated incident. In another area of Abuja, a building at Praco Limited Estate in Guzape also collapsed, resulting in casualties.
These recurring disasters raise serious questions about the integrity of Abuja’s construction industry and the effectiveness of safety protocols.
In a statement released shortly after news of the collapse spread, Abuja’s Emergency Management Agency confirmed that all available resources were being deployed to Sabon Lugbe. They vowed to do everything possible to save lives and get people to safety.
But for the people of Abuja, especially those directly affected by these tragedies, words of assurance are not enough.
Many residents are demanding accountability and stricter enforcement of building regulations to prevent future incidents.
The National Building Code, meant to regulate construction practices in Nigeria, has been criticized for its inconsistent enforcement and lack of penalties for violations.
“Without accountability, these tragedies will keep happening,” said a civil society advocate. “We need to see penalties for developers who violate safety standards and for officials who fail to enforce the rules.”
The ongoing construction boom in Abuja has seen developers racing to meet housing demands, but the repeated incidents of building collapses are making many question the true cost of rapid expansion without strict oversight.
In Sabon Lugbe, rescue efforts continued late into the night. Floodlights illuminated the rubble, while rescue workers, their faces lined with exhaustion, pressed on with their mission to find survivors.
The sound of machinery mingled with the occasional cries from onlookers, each echoing the urgency of the situation.
Local residents volunteered to assist, lifting debris and offering support to emergency workers. Some volunteers also formed a human chain, passing buckets of rubble as they cleared pathways for the official rescue teams.
Witnesses at the scene described seeing portions of the building tilting precariously before it crumbled to the ground, leaving a massive cloud of dust in its wake.
