Prosecute Culprits Of Abuja Collapsed Building, Group Urges FCT Minister

The Housing Development Advocacy Network has called on FCT minister, Mallam Mohammed Bello to keep to his promise of prosecuting FCDA and FHA officials and developers of collapsed abuja building.

The leading housing advocacy group commended the FCT minister for acting on the issue.

In a statement issued to Leadership by the executive director, Festus Adebayo  said that HDAN is ready to go to court if FCDA do not act on his promise

He said , those involved should be charged for manslaughter having lost three lives of construction workers

The FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has on Saturday through the coordinator of Abuja metropolitan management council ( AMMC)said he has directed security agencies to arrest the officials of Federal Housing Authority and the developer over the collapse of the suspended  two-storey  building in Abuja.

The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, made the disclosure at news briefing on Saturday.

Abuja Building Collapse: FCT Minister Orders Arrest, Prosecution Of FHA Officials, Developer

The coordinator also said that the minister asked the security personnel to arrest the FHA officer in charge of granting the development permit and the engineer supervising the development for alleged manslaughter

The building, under construction, collapsed at about 11a.m. on Thursday, at 6th Avenue in Gwarimpa Estate, trapped 24 persons, three were confirmed dead while 21 persons had been rescued alive

The minister, during a visit to the same of the incident, commiserated with the families of the victims and residents of the FCT over the unfortunate incident.

Represented by the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Shehu Ahmad, Bello said, “This is coming at a time when we are all trying as a nation to come out of this worrisome situation of building collapse

“These are issues which the FCT environment was not prominent with, but because of some activities of quackery, this has come into the FCT and the FCT is not too happy with these happenings.” 

The minister recalled that it was the third time such an incident happened at the Gwarinpa Estate.

Meanwhile, FHA’s Head of Public Affairs, Kenneth Chigelu, said that as the residents of Gwarinpa Estate in Abuja are trying to come in terms with the realities of the building which collapsed Thursday, 2nd of February, 2022 along the 6th Avenue, more facts are emerging about the incidence.

He said, “This is coming on the heels of the order by the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello for the arrest of Staff of Federal Housing Authority FHA and the developer of the property. This development was revealed by the Coordinator Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Umar Shuaibu.

“Further searches has revealed that Development Control of the project was a joint effort between FHA and FCDA officials. Further information indicates that both Engineers of the two agencies had jointly signed the log book of the project. 

“It has also been revealed that FHA Development Control unit on in November, 2022 had issued the developer with a Stop Work order, when it was noticed that he has contravened the approval granted him. However, the developer capilalised on the December break and holidays to continue the work. The development prompted the FHA Development Control Unit to issue another Stop Work and Contravention Notice to him onJanuary 11th, 2023.”