The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja Operations Office (AOO), successfully coordinated a multi-agency search and rescue operation following the collapse of a three-storey building under construction at the Kado Fish Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
At approximately 7:10 PM on Saturday, 2nd August 2025, NEMA AOO received a distress call reporting the building collapse. The Emergency Response and Ambulance Bays (ERAB) team from Kubwa was immediately deployed, while critical stakeholders, including the FCT Fire Service, were activated for a joint emergency response.
Under the coordination of the NEMA AOO team led by the Head of Operations, Mr. Zakari Abubakar, and with the FCT Fire Service serving as the lead agency for building collapse incidents, the operation benefitted from seamless inter-agency collaboration. The search and rescue mission concluded successfully at 4:35 AM on Sunday, 3rd August 2025.
The incident involved a three-storey building under construction, which was occupied at the time by two private security guards. One of the occupants escaped unhurt, while the other was rescued with severe injuries and was promptly evacuated to the National Hospital for medical attention.
The rescue operation was jointly executed by NEMA, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Fire Service, Department of State Services (DSS), Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and Zeberced Construction Company.
The operation concluded, and the site was officially closed at 4:35 AM. The Head of NEMA Abuja Operations Office, Mr. Zakari Abubakar, on behalf of the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, appreciated all stakeholders for their swift response and unwavering support throughout the night-long operation.
3rd August 2025
