ABUJA, Three-Storey Building Collapses — A 27-year-old man identified as Aliyu Salisu, a citizen of the Niger Republic, was miraculously pulled out alive after being trapped for nearly 10 hours beneath debris when a three-storey building collapsed in Abuja on Saturday evening.
The incident occurred in the Lifecamp area of Nigeria’s capital and has reignited concerns about building safety, structural integrity, and enforcement of development regulations in the fast-growing city.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in an official statement on Sunday. Adeh explained that the collapse took place at approximately 6:15 p.m. on August 2, 2025, triggering an emergency response involving multiple agencies.
Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of Lifecamp led a multi-agency rescue team to the scene. The affected area was quickly cordoned off to prevent further casualties and to facilitate uninterrupted rescue efforts. Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Development Control Department of the FCT Administration, Zeberced Construction Company, and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc joined forces in the operation.
“Rescue teams worked through the night, and at about 4:00 a.m. on August 3, 2025, they successfully extricated Aliyu Salisu, who had been trapped beneath the rubble for nearly 10 hours,” Adeh said.
Three-Storey Building Collapses in Abuja, Traps Foreign National
Salisu was immediately transported to Cedar Crest Hospital in Gudu, where he is currently receiving medical care. According to hospital sources and the police command, the victim is responding well to treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, personally visited the site of the collapsed building to oversee the emergency response. He praised the rapid coordination between the different response units and the unwavering commitment of volunteers who assisted in the effort.
“This is a prime example of what can be achieved through timely response and inter-agency collaboration,” Adewale stated. “I commend every agency and individual who contributed to saving a life under such challenging circumstances.”
The Commissioner also urged residents of Abuja to remain alert and report emergencies or suspicious activities without delay. He reiterated that the FCT Police Command’s control room lines—0803 200 3913 and 0806 158 193—are operational 24/7.
Three-Storey Building Collapses- As of the time of this report, authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the three-storey building collapse in Abuja. Investigations are currently underway, with structural engineers and forensic analysts expected to assess the site in the coming days.
Although the immediate focus remains on search-and-rescue operations and ensuring public safety, questions are being raised regarding the construction standards of the ill-fated building. The FCT Development Control Department has promised a full structural audit and regulatory review once the rescue phase concludes.
Saturday’s tragedy is not the first instance of a Three-Storey Building Collapses in Abuja in recent years. Despite efforts by city planners and regulatory agencies to enforce building codes, lapses in oversight, poor construction practices, and non-compliance with safety regulations continue to plague the capital’s real estate sector.
Experts argue that rapid urbanization, combined with the increasing demand for residential and commercial buildings, often leads to corners being cut in the construction process. In many cases, substandard materials and unqualified contractors contribute to the structural instability of buildings.
The recent three-storey building collapse in Abuja has reignited these concerns, prompting renewed calls for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to enforce stricter building code compliance and hold erring developers accountable.
Following this incident, city officials are likely to ramp up inspections of high-risk buildings and construction sites in the Lifecamp area and beyond. Residents and landlords have been advised to report signs of structural weakness—such as visible cracks, water leakage, or foundation shifts—to the authorities immediately.
The Federal Government has also been urged to invest in safer urban development frameworks and strengthen the regulatory agencies tasked with construction oversight.
While the successful rescue of Aliyu Salisu has brought a rare moment of relief in an otherwise tragic event, it serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritize building safety and regulatory enforcement across Nigeria’s capital.
Source-Punchng