THE collapse of a section of the cantilevered entrance canopy at the construction site of the new Gombe State House of Assembly Complex has claimed the life of one worker and left seven others injured.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Gombe State Government has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident, which occurred on Friday at the ongoing construction site.
The government confirmed that eight workers were involved in the accident, with the injured victims evacuated to hospitals for urgent medical attention.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation, Danladi Adamu, who said five of the injured workers are receiving treatment at the Gombe State Specialist Hospital, while two others were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
According to the statement, one of the workers died from injuries sustained in the collapse.
Adamu said Governor Muhammadu Yahaya had been briefed on the development and expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased worker.
“The Governor expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and directed that all injured workers receive comprehensive medical care at government’s expense,” the statement read.
The statement added that the governor had instructed the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation, in collaboration with relevant emergency, regulatory and technical agencies, to immediately commence all established safety and accountability procedures.
As part of the investigation, the contractor handling the project and the supervising consultant have been directed to submit a formal incident report within 24 hours.
“The contractor and the project consultant have been directed to submit a Formal Incident Report within twenty-four (24) hours, to be followed by a Preliminary Investigation Report and, subsequently, a comprehensive technical report with findings and recommendations,” Adamu stated.
The government said further actions would depend on the findings of the investigation.
“As the investigation is underway, the Government will allow the established facts to guide all necessary decisions and actions. Appropriate measures will be taken in line with the outcome of the investigation and applicable standards,” the statement added.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing safety, quality and engineering standards in the execution of public infrastructure projects and assured residents that additional updates would be provided as verified information emerges.