Ben Adoga, Abuja
Authorities in the Federal Capital Territory yesterday confirmed the death of two people in a building collapse in Abuja.

A two-storey building in Lagos Street, Garki, collapsed late on Wednesday night.

Following the development, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, ordered the immediate arrest of the landlord of the collapsed building.

The landlord is said to be on the run.

Wike has also taken over the Garki village community and stopped further development till the complete resettlement of natives is achieved.

He gave the order when he visited the scene of the incident, promising to take care of the hospital bills of those hospitalised.

Meanwhile, some residents of the area said they have persistently complained to the landlord and lawyer of the collapsed building concerning its dilapidated state.

They said their complaints, however, fell on deaf ears.

The visibly angry residents equally blamed relevant government agencies for failing to conduct integrity tests or inspect the building, which is located in the city centre and a highly dense area of Abuja.

Rescue efforts were ongoing as two persons were confirmed dead while several others are receiving treatment in the hospital.

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Meanwhile, the Director of the Development Control Department, Muktar Galadima confirmed that the building was located within the Garki indigenous settlement.

He said the building had two suspended floors, one used for commercial activities while the other floors were used as residential accommodation.

Reacting to the development, Wike said, “The status of the place is that it is not a planned area so the development had no planning approval. The area is meant for resettlement from here to Apo resettlement town.
“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 don’t 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 so long that the FCTA has not resettled them and so we will take immediate action to see that the indigenes of these places are resettled and then the government has to plan out this place. When the government says to take a building plan, it is not to harm anybody but to make sure that everyone is protected. Cities are planned to forestall this kind of occurrence.

“Imagine buildings without approval. I will ask that we identify and arrest the owner of this property. It is very important. The 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 the government in the interest of everybody.”

He also assured, “Government will pick up the bills of all those in the hospital. We will also support the rescue efforts and ensure that they get to the last level and rescue everyone still trapped in the rubble.”

Also, the Director-General of FCT EMA, Idriss Abass, said that relevant agencies arrived at the venue of the accident early to rescue the victims.

Abass said that efforts were still ongoing “to ensure that no one is left under the rubbles”.

Meanwhile, some of the victims, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that they lost their investments and properties to the incident, and called for government support.

One of them, Glory Perekeme, who operates a restaurant and a bar at the building, said she lost about N5m as she could not take anything from her restaurant.

“I closed for business around 10:00 p.m. and was on my way home when I received a call that the building had collapsed and my investment was gone. I am still in shock and I don’t even know where to start.

“I need assistance. Government should come to our aid so we can start all over again,” she said.

Another victim, Ann Anyi, who owned a laundry and sells shoes, said that she lost everything to the incident.

“I have been crying since I got the news of the incident at midnight. I am just hoping that when the rescue operation is over, I will be able to salvage something from the rubbles,” she said.