Five Dead, 11 Rescued As Three-Storey Building Collapses In Abuja

No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Gudu District area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning at a construction site located behind Gudu Market, throwing the area into confusion as emergency responders, security personnel and residents rushed to rescue victims trapped beneath the rubble.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Department (FEMD), at least 16 persons have so far been rescued from the collapsed structure, while search-and-rescue operations continue at the scene.

In a statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs at FEMD, Nkechi Isa, 11 of the rescued victims were immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, Asokoro District Hospital and Maitama Hospital for urgent medical attention.

However, five other victims were confirmed dead during the incident.

Most of the victims trapped in the collapsed structure are believed to be labourers working at the construction site when the building suddenly caved in.

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Emergency responders from several agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, FCT Police Command, and FEMD, were deployed to the area to intensify rescue operations and ensure no victim remained trapped under the debris.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with heavy equipment and rescue teams battling to reach trapped victims while anxious relatives and residents gathered around the site.

Officials said rescue efforts remained ongoing as excavators and emergency workers continued clearing debris from the collapsed building.

Although authorities have yet to officially determine the exact cause of the collapse, the incident has once again raised serious concerns over the increasing rate of building collapse in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.

The latest tragedy comes barely weeks after another building under construction collapsed in the Jikwoyi area of Abuja, leaving several workers injured and sparking renewed debate about weak enforcement of building regulations and safety standards.

Construction experts and residents have repeatedly called on relevant authorities to strengthen monitoring of construction projects and ensure strict compliance with approved engineering specifications to prevent recurring disasters.

Meanwhile, officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration are expected to launch an investigation into the collapse to determine possible structural failures, negligence or violations of building regulations.

The incident has also triggered reactions on social media, with many Nigerians mourning the victims and demanding tougher sanctions against developers and contractors found guilty of compromising building safety standards.

Five Dead, 11 Rescued As Three-Storey Building Collapses In Abuja

Fayose Loses Wife To Cancer After Prolonged Illness

Isaac Fayose has announced the death of his wife following a prolonged battle with cancer.

The social commentator disclosed the sad development in a post shared on his Instagram page, where he uploaded a candlelight image alongside an emotional farewell message to his late wife.

“Rest in peace my darling wife, odabo oyinbo mi,” he wrote.

Before announcing her passing, Fayose had publicly spoken about the severity of her health condition during a recent trip to Australia to be with his family.

According to him, he was devastated by the reality of her deteriorating condition as the cancer had left her extremely weak and unable to speak or perform basic daily activities.

Fayose recounted that his wife, who would normally welcome him warmly at the airport, could no longer do so because of her illness, forcing him to travel home alone by Uber.

He also revealed that the illness had completely changed their family routine, as he now had to care for her personally, including preparing meals because she was no longer strong enough to cook.

The grieving husband further shared emotional moments they spent together during her final days, saying he often sat beside her singing her favourite songs while she responded only by holding his hand.

Reflecting on the painful experience, Fayose spoke about the fragility of life and the limits of wealth, stressing that money and material possessions cannot prevent sickness or death.

He also questioned the actions of people who misuse public office for personal gain, noting that worldly riches ultimately cannot save anyone from life’s inevitable end.

His announcement has since drawn sympathy messages from friends, followers and associates on social media.

Fayose Loses Wife To Cancer After Prolonged Illness

MURIC Raises Alarm Over Appointments, Administrative Processes at FUNATO

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, has expressed concern over recent appointments and administrative procedures at the newly established Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), calling for transparency, fairness and inclusiveness in the institution’s operations.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the State Secretary of the group, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, MURIC said although the establishment of the university by the Federal Government was widely welcomed as a major educational breakthrough for the Oke-Ogun region and Oyo State, certain developments within the institution had raised concerns among stakeholders.

The group commended the Federal Government for creating FUNATO, describing the institution as a long-awaited intervention expected to expand access to higher education and promote development in the region. However, it alleged that some recent administrative decisions under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olaniyi Jacob Babayemi, had generated questions over equity and balanced representation.

According to the statement, the appointments of several academics into strategic positions, including Professor Emmanuel Adegbenga Adekoya, Professor Egbeyale, Professor Godwin Olutona, Professor Ojoawo and Professor Awodoyin as Deans of different faculties, had sparked concerns among sections of the university community.

Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO)

While acknowledging the professional competence and academic qualifications of those appointed, MURIC argued that the processes leading to the appointments lacked sufficient transparency and inclusiveness.

The organization also raised objections to the conduct of the recent resource verification exercise reportedly carried out by the National Universities Commission (NUC). According to MURIC, the exercise was allegedly compressed into a single day and conducted without adequate communication to stakeholders, thereby excluding many qualified participants.

The group further alleged that many of the subsequent appointments within the university appeared to have emerged from a narrow pool of participants involved in the exercise, a development it said had created concerns about fairness, equal opportunity and institutional balance.

MURIC also expressed worry over what it described as disproportionate representation along religious lines in the appointment of Deans and Heads of Departments within the university.

The organization stressed that FUNATO, being a federal institution, should reflect Nigeria’s diversity in line with the federal character principle, warning against any form of religious or sectional domination at the formative stage of the university.

“MURIC’s intervention is not motivated by bias or favoritism but by the need to uphold justice, due process, equity and inclusiveness, which are necessary for institutional credibility and national unity,” the statement said.

The group therefore called on the Governing Council of FUNATO, the NUC, the Federal Ministry of Education and other critical stakeholders, including traditional rulers and community leaders in Oke-Ogun, to urgently investigate and review all appointments and administrative processes carried out so far within the institution.

It also stated that it would continue to monitor developments at the university to ensure that the institution remains committed to its federal mandate and does not become a platform for religious or sectional dominance.

MURIC concluded by warning that the integrity and future of FUNATO must not be compromised at its early stage, insisting that transparency, fairness and inclusiveness must guide all administrative actions in order to position the institution as a symbol of excellence, unity and national development.

MURIC Raises Alarm Over Appointments, Administrative Processes at FUNATO