By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

A major disaster was averted in Sokoto State on Wednesday after a two-storey building under construction collapsed along Bauchi Road in Sokoto metropolis, with no casualty recorded.

The structure collapsed at about 2:00 p.m., shortly after workers and passersby had evacuated the area following warnings that the building was showing signs of instability.

The incident prompted an immediate response from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Nigeria Police Force, fire service and other relevant agencies.

An eyewitness and carpenter working on the project, Bello Shehu, said he was on the upper floor fixing rafters in preparation for roofing before he decided to come down for afternoon prayers.

According to him, while workers were preparing to leave the site, some bystanders noticed unusual movements in the structure and alerted everyone to vacate the building.

Shehu said the workers immediately left the site, adding that the building collapsed about 15 minutes later.

“It was nothing short of God’s mercy. If we had remained inside, the outcome could have been disastrous,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufae, confirmed the incident, saying no life was lost and no injury was recorded.

Also confirming the development, the Head of Operations of NEMA covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Alhaji Tukur Abubakar, said emergency responders arrived promptly and secured the area to prevent further incidents.

Abubakar disclosed that preliminary assessment showed that all workers had successfully evacuated the building before the collapse, adding that no one was trapped under the rubble.

He said personnel from the Federal and Sokoto State Fire Services, Nigerian Red Cross Society, SEMA and officials of the Sokoto State Ministries of Environment, Lands and Housing participated in the emergency response.

The NEMA official added that a comprehensive technical investigation had commenced to determine the immediate and underlying causes of the structural failure, noting that the outcome would establish responsibility.

The owner of the project, businessman Alhaji Auwal Abubakar, described the incident as unfortunate but expressed gratitude that no life was lost.

He said necessary engineering procedures were followed before construction commenced, including soil tests, adding that quality materials and equipment were provided for the project.

The collapse has renewed concerns over building safety in Nigeria, with construction professionals repeatedly calling for stricter enforcement of building regulations, improved supervision of projects and adherence to approved engineering standards to prevent loss of lives and property.