One Killed, Seven Injured as Section of Gombe Assembly Complex Collapses

One worker has died while seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries following the collapse of a section of the new Gombe State House of Assembly complex under construction.

The Gombe State Government confirmed that the incident occurred on Friday when a section of the cantilevered entrance canopy being constructed at the project site suddenly gave way.

The new Assembly complex is one of the major public infrastructure projects being undertaken by the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

In a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation, Danladi Adamu, the government said eight workers were involved in the incident.

According to the statement, emergency responders swiftly evacuated the victims, but one worker was confirmed dead, while the remaining seven sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

The government disclosed that five of the injured workers are currently receiving treatment at the Gombe State Specialist Hospital, while two others are being managed at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Gombe. 

Governor Inuwa Yahaya has since been briefed on the incident and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased.

He also directed that all injured workers receive comprehensive medical care at the expense of the state government.

To determine the cause of the collapse, the governor ordered the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation, alongside relevant emergency, regulatory and technical agencies, to immediately activate established safety and accountability procedures. 

The state government further directed both the contractor handling the project and the supervising consultant to submit a formal incident report within 24 hours.

According to the statement, the initial report will be followed by a preliminary investigation and a comprehensive technical assessment detailing the cause of the collapse and recommendations to prevent a recurrence.

The government stressed that no conclusions would be drawn until investigations are completed.

“As the investigation is underway, the Government will allow the established facts to guide all necessary decisions and actions,” the statement said.

It added that any further measures would be based on the outcome of the investigation and in accordance with applicable engineering and safety standards.

The Gombe State Government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring strict compliance with quality assurance, engineering specifications and safety regulations in the execution of all public infrastructure projects.