The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the arrest of the owner of a collapsed building in the Jikwoyi area of Abuja and directed the immediate revocation and seizure of the land where the structure was erected.Wike gave the directive on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the site of the building, which collapsed on Good Friday, April 3, 2026.The Minister said preliminary findings showed that the property owner proceeded with the construction of a two-storey building intended for use as a hotel without obtaining the required building plan approval from the relevant authorities.
According to him, officials of the Development Control Department had earlier issued stop-work notices on the project, but these warnings were allegedly ignored as construction continued until the eventual collapse.“Despite the lack of formal approval, the company proceeded with construction, leading to the eventual structural failure. 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,” he said.Wike described the incident as a clear case of disregard for building regulations and warned that the FCT Administration would no longer tolerate illegal developments across the territory.He directed security agencies to arrest the owner of the property for prosecution, stressing that enforcement actions would be taken against all structures erected without approval.“For me, thank God no life was lost, but the owner will be arrested and prosecuted. Anywhere you see a building going on without approval, report it, and we shall take action,” the Minister added.Wike further announced that the revoked land would be reclaimed by the FCT Administration and converted for community development purposes after consultations with residents of the area.He also emphasized the importance of adhering strictly to building regulations, noting that proper approval processes allow authorities to supervise construction quality and prevent the use of substandard materials.The Minister directed relevant agencies to intensify monitoring and enforcement, including the demolition of illegal structures, in order to prevent future incidents of building collapse within the Federal Capital Territory.Officials who accompanied the Minister on the inspection included the Director of Development Control and the Director of Land Administration.The FCT Administration reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging developers and residents to comply with all physical planning regulations to avoid sanctions and loss of property.
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