4-story building collapse in Nigeria

A four-story building collapsed killing 3 and injuring at least 18 people in Abuja, Nigeria.

The accident occurred in August 17^th, 2018. The building was under reconstruction after it was abandoned for over 15 years. It is not clear what provoked the failure. Many factors including faults in structural design, defects in construction process, poor supervision, usage of inadequate materials or weak foundation can be responsible for the fatal incident. A resident of the area told The Guardian that the building was one of the oldest in Jabi District.

Superstition and engineering knowledge have increased over time but Nigeria still suffered many victims from building collapses in recent years. It is pointed out that ineffective agencies such as the development control departments in cities have neglected their duties over time. 

Yemi Osinbajo, Acting President of Nigeria, who visited the site, stated that the collapse was a very unfortunate incident and expressed satisfaction with the effort of rescue operators and security agencies at the scene. The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Musa Bello, showed compassion to the families of those who lost their lives and ordered an investigation to find the responsible for the accident.

As long as a strict control mechanism of the construction procedures is not applied in Nigeria, similar incidents will inevitably occur.