Building collapse: FCTA vows to prosecute contractors for ignoring stop order

Authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has vowed to prosecute the now on-the-run contractor of the ill-fated four storey building which collapsed and injured nine labourers on Monday.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola who visited the site of the collapsed building on Tuesday also said that any staff of the Administration found to have compromised in the process will not be spared.

While noting that no life was lost, Olusade expressed disappointment with the project handlers for sneaking back to the site during the last Eid holidays to continue the construction despite having been advised and served notice of stop work by the project consultant and FCDA respectively.

He added that the building collapse was the repercussion for ignoring the professional advice of the consultant as well as that of the administration.

He stressed that a high power committee to be led by the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr Shehu Ahmed will look into the incident and come out with white paper on the need to sanction the developers and the culprits involved in the act.

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For his part, the Director, Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, called for the setting up of a high powered panel to unravel the cause of the disaster and ensure disciplinary actions be taken against those found wanting.

According to Galadima, preliminary investigation revealed that when the contractor commenced development, there were observations made by the officers there and he was asked to re-submit for basement because the topography was not reflected in the design.

He noted that because of its sloppy and swampy nature, he was asked to resubmit for basement inclusive of the design.

“Somewhere along the line in the cause of development, there were some alterations and the building was asked to stop until those modifications are integrated into the design. 

“Unfortunately, he was back on site during the Sallah break and the worker were trying to cast on the existing structure when the unfortunate incident occurred,”, he added.

Also corroborating, the Director General of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Dr Abbas Garba Idris, while announcing the suspension of rescue operations at the site said, this was because all 9 persons affected by the incident had been evacuated.

“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“, he stated further.

Idris appreciated responders at the site including the FCT Police Command, FCDA, Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal and FCT Fire Services, Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, Department of Development Control and the National Emergency Management Agency.

The FEMA Boss appealed to builders and engineers to obey the building codes and follow the rules and regulations.