The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the arrest of the owner of the two-storey building that collapsed on Wednesday night at Lagos Street, Garki Village, Abuja.
The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FCT FEMA) said in a statement that two victims have died, while 37 others were evacuated and taken to the hospital.
Wike, who gave the order when he visited the scene of the incident on Thursday, also asked the Permanent Secretary, FCT Administration, Mr Adesola Olusade, to pay the medical bills of those hospitalised.
The minister also urged the Department of Development Control, FCTA, to urgently resettle the residents of the community.
He urged stakeholders to work with government officials for the interest of everyone.
“This is what we are talking about when people just build houses without due diligence to the minimum standard.
“This is why cities are planned, to forestall this kind of incident.
“I sympathise with those who lost their lives, and the medical bills of those in the hospitals will be paid immediately,” he said.
Earlier, the Director, Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, explained that the area was unplanned and houses an indigenous community.
Galadima said that the two-storey building was multipurpose, for both residential and commercial use.
The permanent secretary commended security agencies and some contractors who came out in their numbers to render support in evacuating the rubbles and search for more victims.
Also, the Director-General, FCT FEMA, Dr Idriss Abass, said that relevant agencies have been on ground since the occurrence of the incident to rescue the victims.
Abass said that efforts were still ongoing, “to ensure that no one is left under the rubble.”.
