Wike added that the government would take over the affected Abuja area and ensure that no further development is carried out.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday said he would ask that the owner of a two-storey building that collapsed in Abuja on Wednesday night be arrested.
The building, located at Lagos Crescent, Garki Village in the Garki District, had at least 39 residents, with two certified dead, and 37 receiving treatments for injuries in various hospitals.
Speaking at the scene of the incident, Wike wondered why the resettlement of residents of the area had not been done many years after.
He said; “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 person, and this should be done immediately.
READ ALSO:
Wike bans street trading in Abuja, claims traders aid criminals
“Secondly, these are the things we have been saying, nobody knows whose turn it will be, therefore when government says it will take action in areas where we believe there are illegal developments or buildings that do not 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 for the FCTA to resettle them and so we will take immediate action to see that the indigenes of this 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 occurrence. Imagine buildings without approval. I will ask that we identify and arrest the owner of this property. It is very important.”
Wike added that the government would take over the affected Abuja area and ensure that no further development is carried out.