Structure crumbled minutes after I left, killed my apprentice — Nwabueze
Kenneth Nwabueze, who narrowly escaped death in the three-storey building that collapsed at Alakija, Oriade Local Council Development Area, on Thursday, tells CHIJIOKE IREMEKA how his apprentice died and the cost of ignoring warning signs of distressed structures
How does it feel to have escaped the disaster that rocked Alakija on Thursday?
Nobody is happy about what happened here because many lives were lost. The lives lost cannot be brought back, but the money and businesses that are gone can be replaced.
It feels good to be alive even though I have lost my business to the incident.
I thank God that I am alive. If I were not alive, I would not be talking about this, and nobody would come to ask me anything. If I were not alive, by now my family would have been shattered. My wife and children would have been devastated.
So, God gave me life first; I am not complaining. I lost a lot of machines, but I thank God that I am alive. When there is life, there is hope. As I said earlier, nobody is happy about what happened. At the same time, I feel bad because my worker was not rescued; he died. His parents were sobbing, but there was nothing we could do. Nine people died, and I pray that their souls rest in peace.
Could you explain what really happened on that fateful day?
Yesterday (Thursday), I got to the shop around 9 am because I had some work to do for a Chinese company. Normally, they allow me to finish the job and deliver it to them. But that day, they called and asked whether I had finished their job. I told them I had completed it and appealed for a little time to deliver it.
Meanwhile, another lady I was working for was preparing for her father’s burial. She was supposed to come by at 12 noon to take delivery of the job, but she arrived around 11 am. I told her she had arrived too early and asked her to give me a little time so I could quickly deliver the job and return to the office.
She and her baby were there. Her baby was playing and running around. My secretary was also there with my apprentice. So, I quickly went out to deliver the job.
Within five minutes, I got a call that our building had collapsed. My heart skipped. I immediately ran back. While I was on my way, my secretary called, saying they were trapped under the rubble and asked me to come quickly.
When I got there, I directed the rescue workers to their location. As God would have it, they were rescued, but my apprentice lost his life.
Was your apprentice living with you or his parents before his death?
He lived with his parents and came from their residence to work every day. I don’t even know where they live.
How did you break the sad news to his parents?
They heard about it and came to the scene. They saw everything that happened themselves. It was an unfortunate incident. Those people who died would not have lost their lives if the necessary things had been done.
Were there signs of distress before the building collapsed?
Yes, there were signs of a problem, but we never knew the building would collapse so suddenly. Last week, there were visible cracks on the walls, and the landlord was informed. However, he did not take any action before the building collapsed on Thursday.
Why did you remain there despite the warning signs?
We were hoping the landlord would fix it, as he had promised. According to what he told us, he needed government approval, as required in Lagos State, before carrying out major renovation work on the building.
I was told he had made a payment for the renovation approval a few days before the collapse, but it had not yet been approved. That is what I heard, though I don’t know how true that is.
Do you have any regrets or lessons to be learnt?
Yes, there are lessons to learn. Prioritise your life over riches and wealth.
I would’ve died if I stayed longer — Okoro
Jeffery Okoro is one of the shop owners opposite the ill-fated building. He recounts to CHIJIOKE IREMEKA how he narrowly escaped the tragedy
How does it feel to have escaped the disaster that rocked Alakija on Thursday?
Nobody is happy about what happened here because many lives were lost. The lives lost cannot be brought back, but the money and businesses that are gone can be replaced.
It feels good to be alive even though I have lost my business to the incident.
I thank God that I am alive. If I were not alive, I would not be talking about this, and nobody would come to ask me anything. If I were not alive, by now my family would have been shattered. My wife and children would have been devastated.
So, God gave me life first; I am not complaining. I lost a lot of machines, but I thank God that I am alive. When there is life, there is hope. As I said earlier, nobody is happy about what happened. At the same time, I feel bad because my worker was not rescued; he died. His parents were sobbing, but there was nothing we could do. Nine people died, and I pray that their souls rest in peace.
Could you explain what really happened on that fateful day?
Yesterday (Thursday), I got to the shop around 9 am because I had some work to do for a Chinese company. Normally, they allow me to finish the job and deliver it to them. But that day, they called and asked whether I had finished their job. I told them I had completed it and appealed for a little time to deliver it.
Meanwhile, another lady I was working for was preparing for her father’s burial. She was supposed to come by at 12 noon to take delivery of the job, but she arrived around 11 am. I told her she had arrived too early and asked her to give me a little time so I could quickly deliver the job and return to the office.
She and her baby were there. Her baby was playing and running around. My secretary was also there with my apprentice. So, I quickly went out to deliver the job.
Within five minutes, I got a call that our building had collapsed. My heart skipped. I immediately ran back. While I was on my way, my secretary called, saying they were trapped under the rubble and asked me to come quickly.
When I got there, I directed the rescue workers to their location. As God would have it, they were rescued, but my apprentice lost his life.
Was your apprentice living with you or his parents before his death?
He lived with his parents and came from their residence to work every day. I don’t even know where they live.
How did you break the sad news to his parents?
They heard about it and came to the scene. They saw everything that happened themselves. It was an unfortunate incident. Those people who died would not have lost their lives if the necessary things had been done.
Were there signs of distress before the building collapsed?
Yes, there were signs of a problem, but we never knew the building would collapse so suddenly. Last week, there were visible cracks on the walls, and the landlord was informed. However, he did not take any action before the building collapsed on Thursday.
Why did you remain there despite the warning signs?
We were hoping the landlord would fix it, as he had promised. According to what he told us, he needed government approval, as required in Lagos State, before carrying out major renovation work on the building.
I was told he had made a payment for the renovation approval a few days before the collapse, but it had not yet been approved. That is what I heard, though I don’t know how true that is.
Do you have any regrets or lessons to be learnt?
Yes, there are lessons to learn. Prioritise your life over riches and wealth.
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