Nkwegu Shadrach, a labourer, recounted how he narrowly escaped the building collapse that occurred on Tuesday evening in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The three-storey building, situated within the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital premises, collapsed while construction workers were inside.
Owned by Hon. Ukie Ezeali, a member representing the Afikpo North/East State Constituency in the Ebonyi House of Assembly, the building crumbled to its foundation.
Among those trapped were mason Celestine Arua and physically challenged labourer Egwu Ogbonnia. Both were rescued after several hours, thanks to an operation led by the state Ministry of Capital Territory, the Ministry of Works, and security agencies. The rescued workers are now hospitalized at the Accident and Emergency Unit of AE-FUTHA II and are recovering.
Shadrach, who was outside the building supplying mixed concrete, expressed his gratitude for surviving the incident along with the two trapped workers. “I was there when it happened. I was carrying the last bucket of mixed concrete when I saw the building collapse. I wasn’t affected, but the mason and a deaf and dumb worker inside were trapped,” he recounted.
The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria has labeled the collapse a significant disaster, citing the use of substandard materials and poor workmanship. The council’s Zonal Coordinator, Nwekete Chinasa-Jonathan, noted that the materials and mixtures used for the building were inadequate.
The Commissioner for Capital Territory Development Authority, Sunday Inyima, confirmed the arrest of two individuals connected to the building. He urged the building’s owner to come forward for explanations, while investigations by police and professional bodies are ongoing.
