Wike Orders Probe Into Abuja Building Collapse

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into a building collapse in Abuja that left five people dead and several others injured over the weekend.

He also directed that the site of the incident be immediately sealed off.

The collapse involved a three-storey building under construction which gave way on Saturday morning in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market within the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

Wike, who inspected the scene on Monday, described the tragedy as deeply unfortunate and confirmed that enforcement actions had already commenced, including arrests linked to the project.

He disclosed that preliminary findings pointed to multiple deaths, while several persons were rescued alive from the debris.

According to him, authorities would move quickly to determine the cause of the collapse and establish whether due regulatory processes were ignored during construction.

“From the report I got, we lost five people and some lives were saved. It’s very pathetic. Nobody is happy when you lose somebody,” the minister said during his visit.

He further stated that the Department of Development Control had already sealed off the property, while additional enforcement steps were ongoing. He also confirmed that legal proceedings had begun against individuals connected to the project.

“The Department of Development Control has sealed off the premises. We are going to set up a panel to really look at what happened.

“One of the engineers has been arrested already. From there, we will get to the developer, and he or she will be arrested.”

Wike said the Federal Capital Territory Administration had taken over the investigation, adding that a panel would be constituted to carry out a detailed assessment of the circumstances surrounding the collapse, alongside ongoing preliminary investigations by development control officials.

He also cautioned developers against resisting regulatory oversight, warning that interference with enforcement activities often fuels misinformation and public misunderstanding.

The minister stressed the importance of strict compliance with building standards, including proper soil testing and the use of approved construction materials, in order to prevent avoidable structural failures.

He questioned whether developers consistently adhere to technical requirements before embarking on projects, noting that such lapses frequently contribute to building collapses.

“In the construction of buildings, we must know the quality. What materials are they using? Are they doing the soil test? What is the result of the soil test? Can it allow for two floors or three floors? All these are very key,” he said.

Wike further emphasised that the core responsibility of the government is the protection of lives and property, expressing regret over the loss of lives in the incident.

“How can you buy back these lives? They are gone. That is the responsibility of the government: to protect life and property,” he said.