Building collapse: Wike orders an investigation and seals the premises

Following the tragic building collapse that claimed four lives and left many others injured, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident.

He directed the immediate sealing of the premises and the arrest of the site’s promoter and engineers.

The disaster, which shocked the capital, was preliminarily linked to severe foundation failure caused by an undetected and poorly filled local well.

Visiting the scene on Monday, a visibly shaken Wike expressed deep condolences for the loss of life, describing the incident as “very pathetic” and saying one of the site’s engineers has already been taken into police custody, with the developer next in line for arrest.

“From the report I received, we lost four people. Nobody is happy when you lose someone. The government is taking control of this site. The Department of Development Control has sealed the premises and we are setting up an expert panel to actually look into what happened,” he said.

The minister issued a stern warning to developers who try to circumvent the government’s regulatory controls, reiterating that building policies exist to safeguard lives, not to delay the development of cities. He questioned the quality of materials and the appropriateness of key choices made during construction. “When you build buildings of this nature, people’s lives are very, very important.

“We need to know the quality of the materials. What does the soil test allow? Can it support two or three stories? Will it allow for piling or a raft foundation? All of these are critical,” Wike said.

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