The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has recommended “severe punishments” for those who are technically or otherwise responsible for cases of collapse buildings.
NEMA Director General, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, gave the recommendation yesterday in response to a collapse building in Gwarimpa, Abuja which forced the agency to call for an emergency stakeholder’s summit.
Addressing Search and Rescue Officers of the agency involved in a seven-hour rescue operation in Abuja at the weekend, the NEMA boss said “stakeholders in building industry must find urgent solutions to the unbecoming and rampant cases of building collapse.”
While commending the emergency response agencies for well-coordinated and collaborated efforts, especially their timely arrival at the scene, Mister Sani-Sidi attributed the causes of building collapse to non-compliance with specifications and standards, employment of incompetent contractors and use of substandard materials and equipments.
The Gwarimpa building collapse occurred last Saturday morning and the rescue started around 11am lasting till 7pm with the collaborative efforts of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Civil Defence Corps, Peace Corps Volunteers, Navy and NEMA.
Two lives were lost while five victims were rescued alive. Only one person was critically injured and presently in admission in a hospital in Abuja.
