The Nation Newspaper

Tag: collapses

  • 20 rescued as distressed building collapses

    20 rescued as distressed building collapses

    No fewer than 20 persons were evacuated from a three-storey building in Ojo-Alaba area of Lagos State after it recorded a partial collapse.

    A portion of the building caved in around 7am yesterday.

    The structure, comprising eight blocks of flats at No. 21, Saka Okoro Street, Ilufe Road, Alaba International Market, was already marked for demolition by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA).

    There were no casualties as most of the residents had already deserted the building on Monday when it began to show signs of structural weakness.

    The Nation learnt that the trapped residents were assisted out of the building before the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) was contacted.

    It was gathered that the building had been distressed for over nine months and LSBCA, in the last three months, marked it for demolition. It also issued quit notices to the occupants.

    A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said the building gave signs of collapsing on Monday night.

    “The building began bending on Monday night and the door was hard to open, but we could not expect that it was about to collapse. We heard a very loud sound this (Tuesday) morning and we ran in different directions. It was later on that we realised the building had collapsed. But no one died, neither was any one injured, because many of the occupants of the building did not sleep there on Monday night since the building was already bending. It was only their properties that got trapped,” he said.

    At the time of filing this report, LASEMA, LSBCA, the police and other stakeholders had pulled down the remaining part of the structure, which collapsed on another building.

    LASEMA General Manager Adesina Tiamiyu confirmed that there was no casualty.

    He said the building was pulled down to prevent it from causing more damage.

  • Before another building collapses in Lekki

    Sir: I have noticed with deep concern the state of the massive blocks of flats located in Horizon II, Lekki, Lagos. The collapse of a buildings on March 10, 2016 where over 30 innocent people died is still fresh in our memory hence the need for Lagos State government to take urgent steps to forestall a repeat of such.

    I attend Christ Embassy Church in Lekki by OANDO filling station and each time I drive to church, I notice a deep gorge in the foundation of the estate which overlooks Christ Embassy church and I worry hence this submission.

    The heavy rain of July 8, that created heavy flood in Lekki area of Lagos worsened the situation which led to the collapse of the fence of the estate. The damage is still continuing as I have also observed that the foundations of the massive blocks of flats have been seriously threatened. Knowing Nigerians for what we are, I am sure the occupants of those buildings would have resorted to prayer and fasting to stem the activity of the erosion for a poorly constructed building. They need to be helped as some of them have committed their life-savings into buying the property.

    As a Christian and a realist, I urge the Lagos State government to take quick steps as follows: Dispatch a search party to confirm the level of damage done to the blocks of flats near the referenced fence; send in structural engineers to determine immediate and long-term solution; extend such solution to all the massive blocks of flats near the fence of the buildings near the affected fence; if the situation is as bad as I imagine, occupants should be relocated to a temporary accommodation while the structure is being corrected

    I will feel guilty for the rest of my life, if I do not make and report this observation and the buildings end of taking-lives of innocent Nigerians once again.

    Building-collapse especially in Lagos is a disturbing occurrence. This has occurred too many times and has scored the administration of Governor Ambode low in spite of his efforts in other developmental areas. This should not be allowed to happen again.

    Nigerians should rise up and help their fellow Nigerians in distress.

     

    • John Adamasi,

    Lagos.

  • Three-storey building collapses in Anambra

    An uncompleted twin three-storey hotel at Nkwo-Eziudo market along the

    Ogidi-Abatete road, Ogidi near Onitsha has collapsed with no case of death or injuries reported.

    Residents of the area told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the incident occurred on Saturday at about 2.30pm when workers had left the construction site.

    NAN reports that more than 20 workers are always on site during the work hours.

    The Ogidi Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Hassan Musa, told NAN he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

    He said that the police would visit the scene and conduct investigations to ascertain the cause of the collapse.

  • Five feared dead as NPA warehouse collapses

    Five persons were feared dead in a building collapse at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at Area 1, Sea port in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, on Saturday evening.

    A source said the building was within an old warehouse where items were stored.

    It was not clear last night what led to the sudden collapse of the building, though another source linked it with corrosion.

    The five casualties were reportedly working at the warehouse when the building suddenly caved in.

    Ports Police Unit could not be reached to confirm the incident and police spokesman Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the area is outside his jurisdiction.

     

  • Nigeria’s electricity system collapses

    Nigeria’s electricity system collapses

    The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) yesterday announced the collapse of the electricity syytem in the country, a development that led to zero allocation of electricity to distribution companies (DisCos).

    Due to this, the Nigeria Electricity System Operator (NESO) noted on its website that it generated nothing and allocated nothing at that particular time to the 11 DisCos across the country.

    Prior to the time of system collapse, the  electricity market recorded 2,243.20Mw from which it allocated 257.97Mw to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

    According to the source,  the power crisis being experienced nationwide since Tuesday this week worsened yesterday with a total system collapse at exactly 12.58pm.

    “At that point, the nation went to Ground Zero, with all the DisCos receiving Zero Mw allocation from the NESO

    Earlier in the day, AEDC’s allocation was 257.97Mw while the nationwide generation level stood at 2,243.20Mw.

    “We do not know the cause of the System Collapse yet but you can do your checks with the SO.”

    Managing Director, SO, Mr. Dipak Sarma confirmed that there was a system collapse at Ihiovo.

    He said: “Yes, it was because there was a system collapse today (yesterday) at 12.45pm. At Ihovha power plant that led to a loss of 100Mw.”

    However, what was lost at that moment was more than the 100Mw that the market lost from the system collapse at Ihovba power plant.

    Three days ago,  power generation at the hour of 08.37.00 was 2,030.50Mw.

    It was an indication that energy generation in the electricity market dropped 875.2Mw within 24 hours from the 2,905.70Mw of Tuesday.

    NESO is the arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and it allocated  yesterday’s load as follows: Ikeja 304.58Mw, Abuja 233.51Mw, Eko 223.36Mw, Benin 182.75Mw, Enugu 182.75,Mw Jos 111.68Mw, Kano 162.44Mw, Kaduna 162.44Mw, Port Hacourt 131.98Mw, and  Yola 71.07Mw.

    The operator had at the same hour of Tuesday allocated 435.86Mw to Ikeja, 334.16Mw to Abuja, 319.65Mw to Eko, 261.51Mw to Benin, 261.51Mw to Enugu, as Ibadan received 377.74Mw, and Jos got 159.81Mw.

  • Five rescued, others trapped as building collapses

    Five rescued, others trapped as building collapses

    Five persons, including a teenager and an octogenarian, were rescued yesterday from a collapsed three-storey building in Lagos.

    The building fell at 4, Odunfa Street, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, around 9am.

    Many residents are expressing fear that people may still be trapped in the rubble.

    Before the building called “barracks” collapsed, some of the residents, particularly those on the third floor, were said to have escaped through windows.

    While outside, they claimed that their neighbours trapped in the rubble called them, appealing to be rescued.

    Four persons had been rescued when The Nation got to the scene; two excavators were also being used to create holes between the slabs, to create easy access for those trapped.

    The octogenarian, was rescued over four hours after the collapse.

    She was carried on a stretcher, with an oxygen mask placed on her mouth and nostrils before she was conveyed to a Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) vehicle.

    The grey-haired woman, who was in dust, covered in, looked strong, and attempted to clean her ears.

    A combined team of Police, army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA); National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); federal and state fire service; Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA) and Lagos Safety Commission took charge of the situation.

    Speaking with reporters,  LSBCA General Manager Shola Aderigbebe, said the building had been marked for integrity test after the residents were issued 14 days ultimatum.

    “For this building, we have served them 14 days ultimatum. The ultimatum has expired before today. We asked them to conduct structural stability test (SST) and they agreed. We were still waiting for them to conduct the test before the building collapsed.

    “The test would have helped us to ascertain if the building was distressed or not. Some buildings can be defective but when the test is conducted, we will be able to know if the building can be renovated or demolished.

    “We have opened a file for the building. Marking a building does not mean we are demolishing because no building can be demolished until a test has been conducted to ascertain its stability.

    “In the last four months, we have sealed 1104 buildings for lack of compliance. Some are illegal structures, while some are distressed.”

    LASEMA boss Michael Akindele said those rescued  were taken to Lagos Island General Hospital.

    He said the numbers of occupants of the building could not be ascertained, adding that it could also not be confirmed if people were trapped.

    “We cannot say if people are trapped or not because we have not gotten to ground zero. But so far, five persons have been rescued and we are still working. All agencies responded in good time and we are doing everything possible to ensure that lives are saved,” he said.

    Assistant Director, Federal Fire Service, Okone Macaulay said weak structure was responsible for the collapse.

    “Initially we rescued about four people that were slightly injured from the building. We haven’t seen any victims. The challenges are the equipment used to bring the debris out. It is an old building but as time went on, they have been increasing it.

    “The cause hasn’t been ascertained but the building is weak. The landlord was informed as at last month and he did not do anything. I believe as at yesterday (Tuesday), people were packing out of the building not knowing it was going to collapse this morning.”

    Some residents blamed the landlord and caretaker for negligence.

    They insisted that they had complained to the owners, Onibudo family and the agent, Shile Buga that the building was leaking and weak.

    Some accused government agencies in charge of conducting integrity tests of collecting bribes from landlords.

    A resident, Fatimah Usman said: “They didn’t give us quit notice. My shop is not far from my house. I took my child to school. I was relaxing outside when the building collapsed. I ran and called my husband who was inside when the building collapsed. I didn’t know how he came out. I just saw him few minutes later.

    “We have been living here since four years ago. We have told the landlord severally that the house isn’t good but he didn’t listen. Even last month, when they brought a letter from the state government about the building, he ignored it. Some of us even contributed money for the renovation and now we have been rendered homeless.

    “Those on the third floor may have seen signs; I stay on the second floor and I did not notice anything.”

    Another resident, Bisola Lawal said landlords in the area usually collected money for renovation from tenants, without doing anything.

    She said: “Government should rescue us. They collected money from us claiming they want to renovate their buildings but when you move into the flat, you will not see any sign of renovation. It is really painful. It is not our wish that we are here. It is because we cannot afford houses on the mainland.

    “Government should pity us. At times they (agencies) will come to test the soil and some landlords will bribe them. I know the government may not be aware but they should screen their workers.”

    Enitan Ayinla said she scaled through her window into a nearby uncompleted building.

    She said: “Three pupils were standing this morning and talking to themselves. So, I called one of them and asked what they were talking about and she said our building was making some sound and has cracked.

    “I had just a wrapper on  and I told my husband what the children said. He told me to dress up and go downstairs to check the area that was cracked.

    “We were still at the staircase when we heard a huge sound and the building collapsed. It was through the uncompleted building beside us that my husband and I escaped.

    “People have been calling us that they were in the building and they said the heat was much. We were seven who escaped from the building.

    “I still know some of us that were in the building but I haven’t seen them. I am glad my children had gone to school because I don’t know how I would have escaped with them.”

    Idris Shoga, 50, who claimed that, he paid N150, 000 per year for a self-contained, room and parlour, said the building was recently renovated.

    He claimed that the over 30-year-old structure was renovated about six years ago.

    Shoga explained that dusts came out of the structure before it caved in, adding that he cried when he escaped unhurt.

    “This building is really old; I grew up to know the building. It was very spacious and was built with high standards.

    “Things changed when the owner passed on and those who inherited the family house started demarcating it. It is really unfortunate. It is like a barracks. I can’t count the number of people living there. It was demarcated into different parts,” he said.

  • Bayelsa United goalkeeper collapses

    Bayelsa United goalkeeper collapses

    Bayelsa United goalkeeper Kazeem Yekeen was rushed to hospital when he collapsed during his side’s 2-0 defeat to El Kanemi Warriors in a Week 25 Glo Premier League game at the Kano Pillars stadium, Sabongari, Kano yesterday.

    Yekeen only lasted 17 minutes before he was replaced by goalkeeper Gambo Gideon.

    SportingLife gathered that Yekeen had a head-on collision with one of his defenders when he was trying to save a ball in his 18-yard box.

    He saved the ball but when he stood up to kick the ball out he collapsed and was immediately attended to by the club’s medical doctor before being rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

    The club’s goalkeeper trainer, Adams Jonkey told SportingLife that Yekeen was okay after the treatment. He added that the player was hailed and healthy before the match contrary to a report that he was not feeling fine before the game on Sunday.

    “We are now heading towards our hotel but I can confirm to you that he is getting better after the treatment. The team’s Doctor Dapo Adegoke and Yekeen are now in the hotel and the doctor has told us that he is okay,” Jonkey told SportingLife.

    Tasiu Mohammed’s first minute goal and Flying Eagles star Ifeanyi Matthew’s 89th minute goal gave El Kanemi Warriors three points  in the encounter.

    El Kanemi’s media officer, Obaseki Anthony said it was a good game.

    “Bayelsa gave us a good fight but we overcome them,” Obaseki said.

  • 2015: PDP, APGA pact collapses

    2015: PDP, APGA pact collapses

    The romance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) may be over if the decision of some federal lawmakers in Anambra State to ditch APGA for the ruling party is anything to go by, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    The exit of Mr. Peter Obi as the Anambra State governor appears to be generating unexpected developments within his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Almost five months after he stepped down as the Anambra helmsman, following the expiration of his two terms in office, Obi has slowed down on his political activities within his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and only making few appearances at mostly religious events.

    While he held sway as governor, elected on the platform of an opposition party, Obi enjoyed a close relationship with the presidency much to the discomfort of three other South-East governors who belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    That the former was one man in whom President Goodluck Jonathan was well pleased was  not in doubt. Not only was he appointed by the president as his Honourary Economic Adviser, Obi was also appointed into the very powerful Economic Management Team (EMT), which is the economic advisory body to the President. And for the entire period of his second term as governor, Obi also served as the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum.

    A few weeks before Obi handed over to his protégé, Willie Obiano, in March, speculations were rife that Jonathan had resolved to appoint him as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to replace Anyim Pius Anyim as compensation for his loyalty.

    Not sure of the president’s stance on the issue, sources disclosed that the report resulted into a crisis of confidence between Obi and Anyim, even as some powerful figures in the PDP were alleged to have fiercely opposed the idea.

    Then, came another report that Obi would be appointed as the new Minister of Aviation to replace Ms. Stella Oduah who reportedly resigned on February 12 in connection with her alleged role in the controversial purchase of two BMW cars for N255 million for her personal use.

    As days rolled into weeks and weeks into months, Anyim not only managed to hold on to his seat, the president had also appointed a new Aviation Minister in the person of the former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osita Chidoka.

    Weeks before Chidoka’s appointment was made public, many key stakeholders were optimistic that Obi’s appointment into the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was a foregone conclusion.

    In an interview with an online medium, an APGA chieftain and a member of the House of Representatives, Victor Ogene, defended the alleged plan by the President to pick the former governor as minister.

    “The President appoints his ministers in conformity with the federal character principle and by that, each state is supposed to get at least one ministerial slot. The constitution did not talk about political parties. Secondly, the former governor (Obi) has acquainted himself very well and don’t forget that there has been precedents of people coming in from other political parties to be ministers.”

    Speaking further on why Obi deserved to get the ministerial slot, Ogene argued, “Peter Obi has shown that beyond his own political meaning, he is one person who goes for anything Nigeria. He has distinguished himself in terms of work ethics, in terms of personal examples, in terms of infrastructural development and in terms of proper deployment of the resources of the people of Anambra State and I think he can replicate that in many folds at the federal level.

    “With somebody like Mr. Peter Obi, who is “particular” for due process, you can be sure that that (the Aviation) sector would do him just better.”

    So, what went wrong? The Nation gathered that while the President was initially disposed to having Obi to join his cabinet, hawks in his party and kitchen cabinet convinced him otherwise, arguing that doing so is tantamount to  strengthening opposition parties against the PDP ahead the 2015 general elections.

    “Top PDP members vehemently kicked against any ministerial appointment for Obi. They told the President that if Obi wants to serve as minister, he should defect to the ruling party,” a source quipped.

    Another PDP chieftain in Anambra State who spoke to The Nation on the condition of anonymity gave another version why Obi seems to have lost out in the power play. “The President has realised that Obi is not as popular as it was widely believed,” he said.

    Defection saga and APGA’s future

    The defection of Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, a ranking member of the House of Representatives from Anambra State from APGA to the PDP a few days ago was as unexpected as it was shocking to many people in the state.

    Ekwunife had hinged her decision to dump APGA on its factionalisation, alleged lack of internal democracy, coupled with lack of tolerance to contrary opinion by the party leadership.

    Plans are alleged to have been concluded by three other federal lawmakers from the state to leave APGA for the PDP. Mentioned in the defection plot include the Deputy Spokesman of the lower House, Victor Afam Ogene; Deputy Chairman, Committee on Capital Market, Chris Azubogu and Cyril Egwuatu of Onitsha North/Onitsha South Federal Constituency.

    On Thursday last week, the concerned lawmakers held a meeting with the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu and other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) where modalities for their defection were said to have been fine-tuned.

    One major condition allegedly tabled by the lawmakers was the granting of a special waiver to enable them contest for a fresh term next year, a request that was speedily granted, according to a source privy to the outcome of the meeting.

    The fractured relationship between PDP and APGA, a source revealed, is a deliberate policy by PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, to strengthen and reposition the party irrespective of previous relationship that existed between the ruling party and other parties. “This policy will be strictly enforced no matter whose ox is gored,” said a source.

    The APGA leadership is, however, not giving up in taking measures to keep its house in order.

    A scheduled meeting convened by the Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, with the APGA lawmakers took place on the same day Muazu also met with the three politicians. The main agenda of the meeting was to plead with the lawmakers not to exacerbate the brewing crisis in the party and remain loyal to Obi, who is the party’s Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT).

    But if the feelers from the camp of the lawmakers are anything to go by, their defection to the PDP, according to sources, would be formally effected in the next few weeks, even as another federal lawmaker from one of the federal constituencies in Awka, the state capital, is also allegedly muting the idea of jumping ship from APGA to the PDP.

    Is this beginning of the end for APGA or would the party survive the ongoing attempts by federal forces to decimate its ranks? Time will tell.

  • Airport fence collapses

    Airport fence collapses

    Last Monday’s torrential rain in Kano State has led to the collapse of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport fence, rendering the airport vulnerable.

    The wall leads to Panisau, Kurna Asabe and neighbouring settlements.

    Some villagers told this reporter that the rain, which lasted for over four hours, submerged the entire area of the airport.

    The villagers called on the authorities to provide a solution to prevent stray animals from invading the runway.

    It was gathered that the presence of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Managing Director, Mallam Saleh Dumona, must have prompted the deployment of soldiers to the affected areas to strengthen security.

    Dumona was at the airport to inspect and ascertain the level of the destruction.

  • House collapses into canal

    A portion of a house has fallen into a canal in Ikeja, Lagos, raising questions about its integrity.

    House 9 Duro Daniel Close Off Adeniyi Jones in Ikeja sits on the canal’s edge.

    Occupants of the remaining section of the house have been living in fear since the November 2 incident.

    Some tenants described it as a “horrifying experience that would take a long time to heal.”

    An eye witness, who was visiting when the incident, occurred said: “I went into the kitchen to warm beans in the microwave, and then left around 3: pm to watch the English Premier League match. When I came back around 5:30pm and attempted to go to the kitchen, I found the kitchen, the toilet and the bathroom had disappeared. They just vanished like that, I look down and saw that the remainder of the house was standing on a cliff and the canal was several feet down under us. I couldn’t even find the bricks of the kitchen, it went into the canal.”

    During a visit The Nation that the house close to the canal dividing Agidingbi road and Adeniyi Jones. The gulf also serves as sits drain for the industrial waste from companies on Agidingbi and the water from houses in the neighbourhood.

    “ All the water in this estate comes down to this canal. As you can see, this whole area has erosion problem and all the water comes down here, so it is just a matter of time before further disaster happens,” a tenant said.

    The tenant said the matter had been reported to the landlord whose agents have promised to handle the matter.

    The Nation learnt that the house has no soakaway. All wastes is chanelled into the canal and this may have caused the forceful expansion of the gorge that resulted in the partial collapse of the building.

    It was gathered that the canal has eaten deep into the main building, which boasts of a swimming pool and two apartments. Danger, experts say, still looms’ except something Is done to arrest the situation.

    The landlord started rebuilding the failed section without recourse to existing safety laws and approval from appopriate authorities. Concerned residents are worried over the development, saying: “Can you imagine the landlord is rebuilding the collapsed section? I hope the authorities can come in and stop this before a major disaster happens.”

    There are other buildings on the street backing the canal which may also be in danger. Many of the buildings belong to prominent people including.