FCT Minister orders audit of uncompleted buildings

In a statement by Mr Nosike Ogbuenyi, the Special Assistant, Media to the FCT Minister yesterday, Mohammed also directed that a high powered panel of enquiry be instituted to unravel the circumstances surrounding the collapse of an uncompleted building at No. 2 Ikoli Street, off Gimbiya Street, Garki 2, in Abuja last Wednesday.

The panel which will be made up of experienced professionals , including engineers, architects and surveyors and other relevant stakeholders is to be inaugurated this week by the FCT Minister.

While commiserating with members of the families of those who lost their lives, he vowed that violators of building plans and regulations in the FCT will be duly prosecuted.

The FCT Administration called on residents to shun the practice of living or sleeping in uncompleted buildings as this can be hazardous.

At about 5:00am on Wednesday a four suspended floor building collapsed leaving 21 persons dead. Nine were rescued alive; some of them are still in hospital due to injuries.

“Findings by relevant FCTA officials indicate that the building plan for the plot was originally approved for three suspended floors, while the developer illegally added an extra floor. Structural integrity of the building had questioned its stability and the relevant department of the FCT Administration had indeed gone ahead to remove the roof and the extra floor added to the building. Further investigations revealed that all the victims were squatters who had illegally made the place their abode.”