By Stanley Onyekwere
The FCT Administration has vowed to invoke relevant building codes to punish all persons found culpable in the building that collapsed at plot 965 Dape, Life Camp, in Gwarinpa District.
Attributing the building collapse incident to unprofessional and unwholesome practices, the FCTA disclosed that the developer continued with the development of the ill-fated building despite a stop work order.
Making this assertion after an assessment of the site, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola who commiserated with persons affected by the incident, said no life was lost.
Adesola directed the constitution of a committee to be chaired by the Executive Secretary Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr Hadi Ahmad to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the building collapse.
He said,” This site is permanently closed, a caveat will be placed on the plot so that some efforts are not made either by way of sale or any other transactions.
“We will also identify and establish culpability whether for officials of the administration or by external forces”.
On his part, the Director General of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Dr. Abbas Idriss announced the suspension of rescue operations at the site.
This, Idriss said was because all 9 persons affected by the incident had been evacuated from the rubble.
He adds: “Based on the information from those rescued, nobody is left in the ground. We have gone around there is no presence of any human being”.
The FEMA boss appreciated responders at the site including the FCT Police Command, FCDA, Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal and FCT Fire Services, Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services, Department of Development Control and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The FEMA Boss appealed to builders and engineers to always obey the building codes and follow the rules and regulations.
