Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has ordered a full-scale investigation into the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in Abuja.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident, which occurred on Saturday morning in Durumi 3 near Gudu Market, claimed at least five lives, while 10 others sustained injuries. One person was also rescued alive after spending more than nine hours trapped beneath the rubble.
Speaking on Monday during a visit to the scene, Wike described the incident as “very pathetic” and confirmed that the Department of Development Control had sealed off the premises.
According to the minister, an engineer connected to the project has been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the developer.
“From the report I got, we lost four people and some lives were saved. It’s very pathetic. Nobody is happy when you lose somebody,” he said.
Wike disclosed that a panel would be set up to determine the immediate and remote causes of the collapse, stressing that the FCT Administration would not compromise on the safety of residents.
He added that the Department of Development Control would begin preliminary investigations pending the outcome of the panel’s findings.
“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,” he said.
The minister warned developers against obstructing officials of the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) from carrying out routine inspections at construction sites.
He accused some developers of resorting to blackmail whenever authorities 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 said.
Wike also stressed the importance of adherence to approved building standards, including conducting soil tests and using quality construction materials.
“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,” the minister added.
He reiterated that safeguarding lives and property remained a core responsibility of government.
