By Abdullahi Muhammad, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has on Thursday, disclosed that it will conduct integrity tests on old buildings within the city to forestall building collapse.
The Director, Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima stated this in Abuja while addressing newsmen on buildings that failed integrity tests and may likely collapse.
Galadima said that the test, which would be conducted in partnership with professional bodies, regulatory bodies, and agencies would be carried out in Wuse 1, Garki 1, Garki 2, and Asokoro.
He said that the old houses that would be targeted for the exercise would be mainly those above 30 years.
The director said that the measure became necessary, following the unfortunate incident that happened in Garki village, where a two-storey building collapsed, killed two persons and injured 37 others.
“We have agreed with our colleagues, the professional and regulatory bodies and agencies to identify some structures within the city and conduct integrity tests on them.
“The goal is to avert unforeseen circumstances like building collapse that may occur due to structural defects.
“I have discussed with my colleagues and we will soon be going to the field for the exercise, particularly in Garki 1, Garki 2, Wuse 1 and Asokoro,” he said.
He explained that the areas were targeted because they were mainly developed by private individuals with houses standing for over 30 years.
Galadima said that most of the officers that supervised those buildings are out of service, “and we don’t know the level of supervision then.
“We want to be sure that the structures can stand the test of time,” he said.
He however, said that not every building that failed the integrity test would be demolished.
He said that sometimes the consultants would give room for remedial measures for the building to stand.
Galadima emphasised that structures that failed integrity tests and beyond remedy will be removed.
He urged people to comply with building regulations as provided by relevant acts and laws.
On the buildings located on Plot 643 Cadastral Zone Bo4, Jabi District, he said that the integrity test revealed that the building may collapse.
He said that after the failed test, the occupants of the four single-storey buildings on the plot were asked to vacate the buildings for their safety but refused to do so.
“It is disturbing that in spite professional warnings, the people are still occupying the house, even going further to obtain an order of the Court to stop us from vacating them.
“Our concern is the safety of the individuals and their properties, that is why we are calling on the public to desist from such acts.
“Once a structure has been tested and confirmed to be deficient, people should comply and vacate the structure because anything can happen,” he said.
On the court order, Galadima said that the department would consult the legal secretariat to decide on the next line of action.
During a visit to the affected buildings, Mr Abdulrazak Alao, Deputy Director, Building Inspectorate, North, said that the occupants were served a vacation notice on Aug. 21.
“We also invited them for a stakeholders` meeting to carry them along in the entire process but they refused to cooperate with us, Only for us to get here today (Thursday) and saw a Court Order pasted on the gate of the house, restraining us from carrying further action.
“We have carried out a scientific investigation called the Smith harmer test that indicated that the building is weak and could collapse.
“The buildings have decayed, soaked and weak. I want it to be on record that the building is very unfit for human habitation and might collapse any day,” he said.
Mr Mustapha Suleiman, one of the occupants of the buildings, appealed for the meeting to be rescheduled to Friday and it was granted.
…meets experts over building collapse, undeveloped plots
The Department of Development Control Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has met with experts in the building sector to address cases of building collapse, undeveloped plots and abandoned structures.
Addressing journalists after a meeting with members of the professional bodies on Wednesday, the Director Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima said the Administration was concerned with ending factors that lead to substandard projects.
He said working with professionals outside the Department would help strengthen supervision.
He said: “As a responsible organisation we have to be proactive in addressing the cases of building collapse, we have to work with professional bodies that are regulating agencies.
“We are exchanging views on how to stop the menace of building collapse in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The meeting will help us to constitute a committee that will be making suggestions on tackling the issues, even in the past but this time around we are going to expand it.
“We are going to make it a continuous engagements, discussion and supervision. It will help us share responsibility as well as functionality”
Galadima disclosed that the committee which will soon be constituted will also examine issues surrounding abandoned structures and undeveloped plots and come up with solutions.
Engr Cyril Nwafor, who represented the President Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), urged the National Assembly to implement the recommendations sent to the house since 2010.
He listed the recommendations to include involvement of only registered professionals to handle projects, discipline of those behind failed projects.
Other professional bodies at the meeting are Architect Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) and many others.
Task force impounds over 400 okada in Abuja
In another development, FCTA Joint Task Force Team on Thursday, impounded over four hundred commercial motorcycles over traffic violations in the Federal Capital City (FCC).
These followed combing of strategic spots that the okada operators use as their routes for operations.
The team combed Kpaduma II, Asokoro Extension, Galadimawa by Primary School, Gudu market, Kabusa junction and Apo mechanic.
Speaking before crushing of the impounded motorcycles at Area 1, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Garba Haruna said the exercise was a sign that the law on okada ban was still enforce.
“FCT residents are aware that motorcycles had been banned from entering the Federal Capital City since 2006, crushing of the okada is to show a signal that the city centre is not an area for them to operate.
“There are designated areas for them to operate, that is the suburbs of FCT, so the recalcitrant type will learn from this exercise. We don’t want to see any motorcycle in the city centre” Haruna said.
On his part, the Director FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Abdulateef Bello said the new Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike has given the Directorate a marching order to ensure commercial motorcyclists and Keke NAPEP operators are taken off Abuja roads.
He explained that despite the fact that the DRTS has been working hard to sustain the ban on okada riders within the Abuja metropolis since it was put in place in 2006, the recalcitrant operators keep returning to the roads.
According to him, the Administration had declared zero tolerance to the illegal activities and would ensure the effort is sustained under the new administration.