Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate revocation and takeover of the plot where a three-storey building recently collapsed in the Jikwoyi area of Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC.
The Abuja Inquirer had on Friday reported that 17 workers were on the upper floor when the structure caved in, injuring eight persons and trapping one at the ground level before he was later rescued.
The FCT Police Command and FCT Emergency Management Department, while separately confirming the incident, said the victims were rescued from the rubble and rushed to the Sisters of the Nativity Hospital, Jikwoyi, where they received medical attention.
But the minister who went for an assessment visit to the site, explained that the developer had no approval and also ignored a stop-work order issued by the Development Control Department long before the incident.
“The first thing to note is that there was no approval for the construction of this building. In spite of the fact that the development control had issued notice not to continue because there was no approval, the development control ordered them to stop the construction. The company hesitated and continued.
“Through the glory of God, nobody died, but some people were injured and were taken to the hospital.”
The minister said the administration would now take possession of the land and put it to a public-use purpose agreed with the host community.
In his words, “Since there was no formal approval, and nobody was able to know the quality of material they were using for production, the government will immediately take over this lot of land, and then find out from the community what they would want the government to build for them for a variety of public purposes.”
Wike warned that the case was not isolated and that more illegal buildings would be pulled down across the territory. “I don’t think this is the only person that has already disobeyed all over the FCT, but we are taking time to make sure that anybody who does not have the approval of the development control, and we are aware, we are going to bring some building down, irrespective of who is involved.”
On measures to prevent future collapses, the minister said enforcement would now include immediate demolition of structures whose developers defy regulatory instructions.
“When we see such things, we must take actions to make sure that not just issuing notices. If they see that they still continue, you come and bring the building down in order to save lives.”
The minister threatened that offenders would face consequences. “For me, if you’re involved in a crime and you are caught, you know what to follow.”
He dismissed suggestions of internal connivance in the Jikwoyi incident. “People should not be saying, oh, there are those who have connived with him by giving him an approval without authority. That’s a different thing. But in this case, there was no approval at all.”
Wike, said the Federal Capital Territory Administration, would continue to enforce strict building regulations to protect residents and restore order in the construction sector.
