current matters
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike
has ordered a full-scale investigation into the building collapse in Abuja that resulted in the death of five persons.
Wike also ordered the immediate seal off of the premises
The Minister disclosed that an engineer linked to the collapsed structure had been arrested, while the developer would also face arrest.
Wike ,who visited the scene of the collapsed building on Monday, described the incident as “very pathetic,” stressing that the government would not compromise on the safety of residents.
“From the report I got, we lost five people and some lives were saved. It’s very pathetic. Nobody is happy when you lose somebody.
“The Department of Development Control has sealed off the premises. We are going to set up a panel to really look at what happened. One of the engineers has been arrested already. From there, we’ll get to the developer, and the developer will also be arrested,” Wike said.
According to him, the FCT Administration has taken over the matter, while the Department of Development Control would carry out preliminary investigations pending the outcome of the panel’s findings.
The Minister warned developers against obstructing officials of the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) from carrying out routine supervision of construction projects.
Wike said some developers often resort to blackmail whenever government agencies attempt to enforce compliance with building regulations.
“Sometimes when we come to a site like this, the press has not been kind to us. Instead of finding out why government is taking that decision, some people will go to blackmail government officials,” he stated.
The Minister stressed that strict compliance with building standards, including soil tests and the use of quality materials, remained critical to preventing future disasters.
“In construction of buildings, we must know the quality. What materials are they using? Are they doing the soil test? What is the result of the soil test? Can it allow for two floors or three floors? All these are very key,” he said
.The three storey building under construction located at Durumi,near Gudu market caved in on Sunday killing five people and injuring many.
