By Ladi Patrick
The Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has disclosed that abandoned buildings that fail integrity tests will be demolished in compliance with the master plan.
Bello, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye noted that the minister stated this when a delegation of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIB) led by its Third National Vice President, Bimbo Kolade, paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) at the weekend in Abuja.
The statement noted that his administration has commenced integrity tests on most abandoned buildings in the nation’s capital.
It further noted that, “If you look at the quantum of
buildings, both public and private, within the FCT, in terms of the period
within which they were put up, I think no city in Nigeria will match what has
been put here, and all that has been done with great collaboration by members
of the building institute; and that’s why your institute is very important in
the socio-economic development of this great country.”
The minister charged members of the institute to be firm and more professional
when enforcing building rules to earn credibility and acceptability from the
public.
“Certain factors such as facilities for physically challenged people, security and fire-fighting were being taken into consideration in the construction of public buildings in the FCT, and charged builders to insist on the inclusion of such facilities when constructing buildings.
“I have seen quite a number of buildings here approved by the relevant FCTA agencies, and I always ask them, these massive buildings with so many shops, how are the people going to park their vehicles?
“In the event of crisis, how can people be evacuated? So, I think we should go beyond just trying to get the maximum utilisation of a square metre.
“As an institution, your code of conduct should make your members decide if a building shouldn’t be built based on faulty design or faulty material or faulty location.
“Let your members say they are not going to participate. I think if you are able to do that, you will reach a certain level whereby people will have no option but to believe in you.”
He commended the institute for the survey it carried out on abandoned buildings in the territory.
Earlier, the National Vice President, Bimbo Kolade appeal to the minister to explore recommendations made by the institution in the report on building collapse in the FCT.
