A worker has died and seven others sustained injuries following the collapse of a section of a cantilevered entrance canopy under construction at the new Gombe State House of Assembly Complex.
The incident occurred on Friday, prompting emergency responders to rescue workers trapped beneath the debris.
The Gombe State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Danladi Adamu.
According to the ministry, five of the injured workers are receiving treatment at the Gombe State Specialist Hospital, while two others are being treated at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Gombe.
The identities of the deceased and injured workers have not yet been released.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and directed that the state government cover the medical expenses of all injured workers.
The governor also ordered an immediate investigation into the structural failure, directing the Ministry of Works and relevant emergency and engineering regulatory agencies to determine the cause of the collapse.
The contractor and supervising consultant have been instructed to submit a formal incident report, which will be followed by a preliminary investigation and a comprehensive technical assessment.
Authorities said the collapsed structure was a cantilevered entrance canopy, a design that requires precise engineering and load calculations during construction.
While the cause of the collapse is yet to be established, the state government warned that anyone found negligent or responsible for using substandard materials would face appropriate sanctions.
Construction activities have been suspended in the affected section of the project as investigators examine the scene and analyse the structural debris.