FAVOUR ISHEMBER, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate takeover of a plot of land where a building collapsed in the Jikoyi axis of Abuja, citing lack of approval and blatant disregard for development regulations.
Speaking shortly after inspecting the site, Wike disclosed that the structure was erected without any official approval from the FCT Development Control Department, despite repeated stop-work notices issued to the developers.
“First of all, the first thing to note is that there was no approval for the construction of this building.
In spite of the fact that Development Control had issued notice not to continue, the company ignored and continued construction,” he said.
The Minister described the incident as unfortunate, revealing that the building collapsed last Friday. He, however, expressed relief that no lives were lost, although some individuals sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
“Through the glory of God, nobody died, but some people were injured and have been taken to the hospital,” Wike stated.
Following the development, the FCT Administration has moved to take over the land, with plans to consult the host community on alternative public uses for the property.
“Since there was no formal approval and nobody could ascertain the quality of materials used, the government will immediately take over this land and find out from the community what they would want the government to build for public purposes,” he added.
The Minister reiterated the administration’s commitment to enforcing building regulations across the FCT, warning that any structure erected without proper approval would be demolished, regardless of the status of those involved.
“We are taking steps to ensure that anybody who does not have approval from Development Control will have their buildings brought down, irrespective of who is involved,” he warned.
Responding to questions on preventive measures, Wike stressed the need for strict enforcement beyond issuing notices, noting that defaulters often ignore initial warnings.
“If nothing happens after the first and second notices, they will continue. So when we see such cases, we must take decisive action, including bringing down such buildings to save lives,” he said.
He further lamented the growing trend of illegal construction activities, often carried out in secrecy, particularly during odd hours.
“Sometimes buildings spring up in the early hours, and you will be surprised. People like to disobey laws. The simple thing is to go and get approval so authorities can supervise the project and ensure quality standards,” he explained.
Wike also cautioned against any form of collusion, noting that in the present case, there was no evidence of connivance as the developer had no approval whatsoever.
“But if there is any case of connivance, that is a different matter. In this instance, there was no approval at all,” he clarified.
He warned that violators risk not only losing their investments but also facing prosecution.
“Assuming lives were lost, it would have been a different story. The land is now taken, and those involved will face the consequences,” the Minister said.
The FCT Administration has continued to intensify monitoring and enforcement efforts aimed at curbing illegal developments and preventing avoidable disasters across Abuja.
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