Speak Out for Justice Advocacy Ltd/Gte (SOJA) has condemned the tragic death of Barrister Abdulsalami Ginsau, who reportedly suffocated after being trapped in an elevator at a hotel in Abuja on March 31, 2026.
The advocacy group is calling for urgent investigations, stronger safety regulations, and accountability for any negligence that may have contributed to the incident.
In a press statement, SOJA described the death as preventable and raised serious concerns about building safety standards, emergency response systems, and regulatory compliance in Nigeria’s hospitality and construction sectors.
The organisation said the incident highlighted systemic gaps that put lives at risk.
“Elevators are not luxuries—they are life-dependent systems,” SOJA said.
It said: “Any failure in their design, maintenance, or emergency protocols can have fatal consequences. No individual should lose their life in such a preventable and distressing manner.”
The group cited both domestic and international legal frameworks protecting the right to life, including Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. SOJA stressed that the Nigerian government has a duty to prevent third-party negligence and to enforce safety standards that safeguard citizens.
SOJA outlined several recommendations, including conducting a thorough, independent investigation into the circumstances of Ginsau’s death, identifying any negligence or regulatory breaches, and holding all responsible parties accountable.
The organisation also called for the development and enforcement of national regulations on elevator safety, mandatory inspection and certification programs, installation of functional emergency systems in elevators, and criminalization of gross negligence in life-dependent infrastructure.
Hameed Ajibola Jimoh, Executive Director of SOJA, emphasised that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for systemic reform.
“A society that fails to safeguard basic infrastructure places every citizen at risk. Justice must not only be demanded—it must be delivered,” he said.
The tragic death of Ginsau has reignited public debate on the enforcement of building codes and the adequacy of safety measures in public and private facilities across Nigeria.
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