The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has directed the arrest of the owner of a two-storey building that collapsed on Good Friday, 3 April, in Jikwoyi, Abuja. The structure, under construction as a hotel without approved plans, had been served stop-work notices by Development Control officials, which were ignored. During an assessment on Tuesday, Wike confirmed the owner's disregard for regulations despite prior warnings.
Wike emphasized that no lives were lost but stressed zero tolerance for violations. He ordered the seizure of the land and announced plans to consult the community on a public project for the site. The Minister vowed to demolish unauthorized buildings and urged developers to follow proper approval processes, warning of prosecutions for non-compliance.
The Minister's vow to prosecute the owner exposes how easily Nigeria's building codes are flouted for profit. For Abuja residents, this means the FCT administration may finally crack down on reckless developers, but only if enforcement matches the rhetoric.
