By TINA TIMOTHY

Following the recent building collapse in Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has commiserated with the victims of the unfortunate event.?

While lamenting the frequency of such tragic occurrences which he described as ?very disturbing and worrisome?, the former Anambra governor, on his verified X handle @PeterObi, on Monday, October 28, 2024, urged the federal government to ensure to rescue all the victims and take proactive measures to forestall future occurrences.

He wrote: "The frequency of building collapse in the country has become very disturbing and worrisome and calls for national attention.

?The latest distressing reports of the building collapse in Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, yesterday, which left about 40 persons trapped in the rubble, is just one of the many such incidents.

?I learned that residents and emergency workers were already on the ground since the incident occurred yesterday, helping with first response and rescue efforts.

?I urge the government to intensify efforts and ensure the safe and complete rescue of all the affected victims.

?Beyond the rescue efforts, the relevant agencies need to investigate extensively into the factors surrounding the building collapse, to forestall future occurrences.?

Obi, while praying that every one of the victims is safely rescued and reunited back to their families, also called for a review and reinforcement of the nation?s building codes and regulations as well as the arrest and prosecution of offenders.

?Specifically, we need to review and reinforce our building codes and regulations and ensure that there is strict enforcement of rules and regulations all over the country.

?There is need to arrest and prosecute all erring builders, engineers and supervisors whose negligence leads to building collapses.

?My heart goes out to all our brothers and sisters who were trapped under the rubble of the collapsed building. I pray that every one of them is safely rescued and reunited back to their families,? he added.