The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Adesola Olusade, on Tuesday, said an investigation had commenced to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the four-storey building collapse on plot 965, Dape, Life Camp, in the Gwarinpa District of the FCT.
Olusade, who confirmed the development during an on-the-spot assessment of the scene of the collapsed structure, said anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.
In a statement by the Head, Public Affairs, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Nkechi Isa, the permanent secretary blamed the building collapse on unprofessional and unwholesome practices, noting that the developer was served a stop work notice, which he ignored.
Adesola vowed that the relevant building codes would be invoked to punish all persons found culpable.
He said,” This site is permanently closed; a caveat will be placed on the plot so that some efforts are not made either by way of sale or any other transactions. We will also identify and establish culpability whether for officials of the administration or by external forces.”
Olusade directed the constitution of a committee to be chaired by the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Hadi Ahmad, to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the building collapse.
The Director-General of the FEMA, Dr Abbas Idriss, said the rescue operation had been suspended.
“Based on the information from those rescued, nobody is left in the ground. We have gone around; there is no presence of any human being.”
