The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate arrest of the owner of the two-storey building that collapsed in Lagos Crescent located in Garki 2 of Abuja on Wednesday night.
Wike who gave the order when he visited the scene of the collapsed building on Thursday, stated that the FCTA will resettle indigenous residents of the community to allow government agencies to properly plan the area and forestall future occurrences.
According to report, the building had at least 39 residents, with two certified dead, and 37 rescued and taken to various hospitals.
Speaking further, Wike applauded the ongoing rescue efforts, saying that it was unfortunate that they woke up to the very disturbing news of the building collapse.
“It is unfortunate that we woke this morning to the very disturbing news of this building collapse. It is not what we contemplated. Let me thank the agencies particularly NEMA and FEMA that have supported us to rescue not less than 37 lives. It is unfortunate that we lost two lives.
“I will appeal to the Permanent Secretary to make sure that funds are raised to pay the hospital bills of those who were rescued, so that we do not lose any more people, and this should be done immediately.
“Secondly, these are the things we have been saying, nobody knows whose turn it will be, therefore, when the government says it will take actions in areas we believe there are illegal developments or buildings that don’t comply with the standard codes, it is not as if anybody has any personal vendetta but for me, it is for us to do the right thing.
“I don’t know why it has taken long that the FCTA has not resettled them and so we will take immediate action to see that the indigenes of these place are resettled and then government has to plan out this place.
“When government says take building plan, it is not to suffer anybody but to make sure that everyone is protected. Cities are planned to forestall this kind of occurrences. Imagine buildings without approval. I will ask that we must identify and arrest the owner of this property. It is very important,” he said.
He added that the government will take over the area to prevent further development, and urged all stakeholders to cooperate for the good of the community.
“Government will, of course, take over this area and make sure no further development is carried out here. I want all the stakeholders here to please work with government in the interest of everybody. No one has come here to say I like A, I don’t like B. I know sometimes government’s decisions may not be too comfortable with the people, but in the long run, it is in the interest of the people.”