The Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has set up a seven-man committee to prevent building collapse in the federal capital.

The director of the department, Mukhtar Galadima, told journalists after the committee’s inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday that the move was part of proactive measures to address incessant building collapse.

“We don’t have to wait for another building to collapse before we act. That is why we set up the committee to help investigate structures that are not structurally stable for human habitation.

“The committee will be looking out for structures that visually may look stable but not, and recommend an integrity test,” Mr Galadima said.

He added that the committee would also make recommendations on reducing the incidence of building collapse to the barest minimum in the FCT. 

He said the committee would equally recommend who to be engaged to conduct the integrity test.

According to him, the committee comprises representatives from the Council for Registered Engineers of Nigeria, Town Planners Registration Council and Builders Registration Council.

Others are the National Institute of Building and Road Research Institute and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, among others.

Describing the task as a “national call, ” the director said that the committee had two months to deliver on the task at the first instance.

Mr Galadima warned that any official of the department involved in sharp practices would be dealt with in accordance with the civil service rule and other extant laws.

The chairman of the committee, Allabeh Ndirmbula, said the reasons for building collapse were many – materials, construction, design, misuse, quackery, ageing and disaster, among several other factors.

Mr Ndirmbula, a former president of the Town Planners Registration Council, said the committee would work to address, with a focus on Phase 1 area of the FCT, namely Wuse 1 and 2, Garki and Asokoro.

Also, Ajibade Adeyinka, secretary of the committee, described the building industry as a “complex industry”.

(NAN)