By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) has indicated the Federal Housing Authority ( FHA) over the collapsed two-storey commercial complex under construction at Gwarinpa District in Abuja.
Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority ( FCDA) Engr Shehu Hadi, said there has been indiscriminate changes in land use within the District.
The FCT officials confirmed that three site workers were confirmed dead, over 20 rescued, while many were said to still be trapped under the rubbles of a two-storey of the uncompleted building, that collapsed at 7th avenue, Gwarinpa Housing Estate.
It will be recalled that Gwarinpa District is an area allocated to FHA by FCTA for the development of mass housing estate.
The Director Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA), Muktar Galadima said that those rescued have been taken to hospital for medical attention.
Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council ( AMMC) Umar Shuaibu said investigation will commence immediately to ascertain both the remote and immediate cause of the collapse.
According to an eye witness, John Edwin said the workers in the site, especially laborers conveying blocks to the top, were over 50.
He claimed to have lived in the area for many years, and that he has always known the place to be a reserved green area.
Edwin urged relevant authorities to call the management of Federal Housing Authority to question, for illegally allocating Green areas to commercial complex.
Meanwhile, FHA’s Kenneth Chigelu Head Public Affairs acknowledged that the developers compromised the approval granted them.
Chigelu noted, ” Preliminary findings revealed that an approval for 2 floors was granted to the developer, who decided to add an extra floor to the structure”.
