Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate arrest of the owner of the two-story building that collapsed in Abuja on Wednesday night.
News About Nigeria recalls that two deaths and 37 injuries were recorded after a two-storey building collapsed at Lagos Cresent in Garki axis of Abuja.
According to sources the building collapsed as it rained heavily at 11 pm on Wednesday. Rescue operations were reportedly very slow over the night as it was difficult to get access to evacuators at the time of the incident, leaving rescuers to carry out their operations manually.
However, Minister Wike at the scene of the incident explained that the original residents of the area were recommended for resettlement, and he wondered why his predecessor failed to carry out the recommendation.
Further applauding the rescue team for their efforts towards ensuring that those trapped in the building were rescued, Minister Wike 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.”
“Secondly, these are the things we have been saying, nobody knows whose turn it will be, therefore when government says it will take actions in areas 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,” he added.
