Borno Residents Fear Collapse of Partially Demolished Building Near Hospital

Residents in the Abaganaram community of Maiduguri, Borno State, have raised urgent alarms regarding a partially demolished four-storey building that poses a significant risk of total collapse. One year after the state government initiated partial demolition, the structure remains standing adjacent to the Abaganaram Primary Healthcare facility and local shops. Community leaders and residents warn that the approaching rainy season, characterized by heavy windstorms, could trigger a catastrophic collapse, endangering patients, healthcare workers, and nearby businesses. Local leaders, including Babagana Jibril and Imam Goni Muhammad, have pleaded with the Borno State Government to take proactive measures, either by completing the demolition or stabilizing the structure. While an anonymous source indicated that the delay stems from ongoing legal disputes between the government and the building owner, residents argue that public safety should supersede litigation delays. The situation is exacerbated by recent wind-related destruction in Bama town, heightening community anxiety. A lawsuit filed in March 2025 by Senatorial candidate Attom Magira challenging the initial demolition as unlawful further complicates the resolution, leaving residents in a state of prolonged uncertainty and fear for their lives and livelihoods.