CITY NEWS 2 die in Abaji auto crash AMMC, development control demolish shanties in Zuba
Family of six escapes as fire razes flat in Abaji
Asix-year-old child and a pedestrian, identified as Abdul, died in a motor accident yesterday morning in Abaji town, on the Abuja- Lokoja road.
Our reporter learnt that six other people, among them two children, were injured in the accident and taken to hospital by men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the area.
A witness said the accident happened when a Honda Academy car with registration number XC 318 ABC coming from Abuja axis ran over a pedestrian crossing the road.
He said the driver was trying to avoid hitting a trailer that stopped abruptly in front of him when he lost control but ran over the pedestrian, saying the car somersaulted into the ditch, killing the six-year-old child who was in the car.
When contacted, Abaji unit commander of the A man, Abubakar Musa, his wife and four children escaped unhurt when an early morning fire engulfed their four-bedroom flat behind Sabon-Gari Primary School in Abaji on Wednesday.
Musa, who is a staff of the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) in the area, while narrating the incident to our reporter, yesterday, said it happened at about 12:17a.m.
He said he woke up to put on the television to watch a programme only FRSC, Olasupo Esuruoso, confirmed the accident, which he attributed to over speeding and loss of control by the driver.
He said the corpse of the pedestrian had been handed over to relatives in the area for burial, while that of the child was deposited at Abaji General Hospital morgue.
He added that six people, two men, two women and two girls in the car sustained injuries and were also taken to hospital for attention. ACC to see thick smoke billowing from the parlour.
He said he rushed back and woke his wife and children and took them out of the flat.
“Actually, there is a programme that I normally watch on TVC at 1:00a.m. So when electricity was restored at about 12:00a.m., I woke up and on getting to the parlour to put on the television, I saw fire so I shouted and asked my family members to move out,” he said.
He said it was God that saved his life and that of his family, noting that the fire was
The FRSC commander, while decrying incessant accidents which involved deaths of pedestrians, said he had written a proposal to the council authorities on the need to construct a pedestrian and overhead bridge in the area.
The commander further suggested the need for the traditional ruler of the area to summon a stakeholders’ meeting at his palace to enlighten his subjects about the danger of crossing the busy highway. raging as he and members of his family were trying to escape from the flat.
He added, “I watched helplessly as my house, certificates, car and everything that I own got burnt to ashes. But I still thank God that I and my family members were not injured in the inferno,” he said.
Musa said fire fighters later arrived the scene but at that time everything in the flat had been burnt.
He, however, said the management of the FGGC in the area has given him a temporary house where he is currently staying with his family. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) and the Department of Development Control have begun the demolition of shanties on the road sides of the Kaduna expressway in Zuba area of the FCT.
The demolition exercise which took place yesterday with the collaboration of the FCT ministerial task force team started from the right hand side of the double carriageway.
The occupants of shanties were left confused as their business stalls, goods and equipment were brought down by a heavy duty caterpillar truck.
City News learnt that before now, the occupants had been served notice to move their businesses from these plots along the roadsides but they didn’t adhere to.
While speaking to journalist, the Coordinator Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Umar Shuaibu, said infrastructure had since been provided on these plots, adding that a one week notice will be served to the owners to either take over their plots and develop them or they will be revoked.