Wike seizes Jikwoyi collapse site, orders developer’s arrest

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered the arrest of the owner of a multi-storey hotel building that collapsed last Friday in Jikwoyi, Abuja, and directed that the land be taken over by the FCT Administration for public use.

Wike, who conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the site on Monday, said the building was erected without approval from the FCT Department of Development Control and that the developer had repeatedly defied stop-work notices before the structure gave way.

“There was no approval for the construction of this building. Development Control had issued stop work notices, but the company ignored them and continued regardless,” the minister said.

He said no fatalities were recorded, though several persons sustained injuries and were taken to hospital, warning that the outcome could have been far worse.

The minister announced that those responsible for the illegal construction would face prosecution, and that the affected community would be consulted to determine what public-purpose project would be built on the reclaimed land.

Wike directed relevant agencies to intensify enforcement, including the demolition of unapproved structures, and warned that developers who violated building regulations would face the full weight of the law.

“It is important that we act decisively. Where there is clear violation, the law must take its course,” he said.

He stressed that buildings erected without regulatory oversight frequently relied on substandard materials, putting lives at risk, and urged developers to obtain proper approvals before commencing construction.