By Miriam Humbe
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the process of removing the remnants of the three-storey building that collapsed on Monday evening at Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Nkechi Isa, the FEMD Head Public Affairs disclosed this in a statement signed on Tuesday.
Heavy-duty equipment, including an excavator and payloader belonging to Zeberced Construction Company, arrived at the scene of the incident at about 11:04 p.m last night and immediately commenced excavation operations to ascertain whether any victims were trapped beneath the rubble.
The Head of Search and Rescue of the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Mr. Monday Adie, has confirmed that no casualties were recorded in the incident.
According to him, excavation operations were initially delayed to allow occupants of the building sufficient time to salvage their personal belongings and other valuables.
Mr. Adie further disclosed that through the combined efforts of security agencies and volunteers at the scene, approximately 90 per cent of the occupants’ properties were successfully salvaged before excavation and demolition operations commenced.
The three-storey building, which served both commercial and residential purposes, had earlier been identified as structurally unsafe.
It would be recalled that the FCTA Department of Development Control had marked the building for demolition following the collapse of one of the pillars supporting the structure.
The Department had also issued notices to the occupants to evacuate the building due to the danger posed by its structural condition.
The FCTA remains committed to protecting lives and property and will continue to work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with building regulations and safety standards across the Federal Capital Territory.
The Federal Fire Service,FCT Fire Service, Civil Defence, FCT Police Command, Department of Development Control, National Emergency Management Agency and the Health and Environment Secretariat were at the incident scene.
