FCTA BEGINS CLEARANCE OF COLLAPSED BUILDING IN WUSE

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has commenced the removal of debris from a three-storey building that collapsed in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, on Monday evening. Emergency responders and relevant authorities moved to the scene shortly after the incident to assess the situation and determine whether anyone could have been trapped beneath the rubble.

According to the FCTA Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, heavy-duty equipment, including an excavator and payloader provided by Zeberced Construction Company, arrived at the site at about 11:04 p.m. and began excavation operations. The Head of Search and Rescue at the FCT Emergency Management Department, Monday Adie, confirmed that no casualty was recorded in the collapse.

The excavation was initially delayed to allow occupants to retrieve their belongings and valuables from the affected structure. The FCTA said security agencies and volunteers helped residents recover about 90 per cent of their properties before the removal of the building remnants began. The structure had been used for both residential and commercial purposes.

Authorities disclosed that the building had previously been identified as unsafe. The FCTA Department of Development Control reportedly marked the property for demolition after one of its supporting pillars collapsed and issued evacuation notices to occupants because of the danger posed by the structure. The latest clearance exercise is therefore part of the administration’s broader efforts to enforce building safety regulations and prevent further risks to lives and property in the capital.

The FCTA said it would continue working with emergency responders, security agencies and other stakeholders to strengthen compliance with approved building standards across the Federal Capital Territory. The administration also reiterated its commitment to preventing avoidable building-related disasters and protecting residents from structures considered dangerous or structurally compromised.