- Abuja Building Collapse: Wike Orders Probe, Arrests Engineer
- Wike orders investigation, arrests engineer linked to structure
- Developer to face arrest as site has been sealed
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the building collapse in Abuja that claimed five lives, while also directing the immediate sealing of the site.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Wike also confirmed that an engineer connected to the project has been arrested, while the developer will also be taken into custody as investigations continue. He added that a special panel has been constituted to determine the cause of the structural failure.
Wike made the disclosure on Monday after visiting the scene of the collapsed building, describing the incident as deeply unfortunate and avoidable.
“From the report I got, we lost five people and some lives were saved. It’s very pathetic. Nobody is happy when you lose somebody,” he said.
The Minister confirmed that the Department of Development Control had already sealed off the premises as part of immediate safety measures.
“We are going to set up a panel to really look at what happened. One of the engineers has been arrested already. From there, we’ll get to the developer, and the developer will also be arrested,” Wike stated.
He explained that the Federal Capital Territory Administration had taken full control of the investigation, while preliminary assessments would be conducted by the Department of Development Control before the panel begins its work.
Wike also issued a warning to developers who obstruct regulatory agencies from carrying out inspections and enforcing building standards across construction sites in the FCT.
According to him, such resistance often leads to misinformation and unnecessary criticism of government actions.
He stressed the importance of strict adherence to building regulations, including proper soil testing, use of certified materials, and compliance with approved structural designs.
“In construction of buildings, we must know the quality. What materials are they using? Are they doing the soil test? What is the result of the soil test? Can it allow for two floors or three floors? All these are very key,” he said.
Wike further reiterated that the primary responsibility of government remains the protection of lives and property, adding that the loss of lives in the incident was tragic and irreversible.
