FCTA dismisses reports of collapsed building in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Sunday dismissed as untrue reports of a collapsed building in Abuja, where over 40 persons were reportedly trapped.

It clarified that the building, located in the Sabon Lugbe area of the territory, was in the process of being demolished, which attracted over 500 scavengers to the site.

The Director of FCTA’s Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, in a statement released on Sunday, said the building had already been demolished, and scavengers, popularly known as “Baban Bola,” had invaded the site to scavenge iron rods when part of the demolished structure caved in.

Galadima said: “This is to bring to the notice of the Department that the media publication regarding the collapse of a multi-storey building in Lugbe is just propaganda.

“The subject building is within a site currently under demolition, and the structure in question was an uncompleted building that was demolished on Thursday.

“Information gathered indicates that the site recorded a mass influx of scavengers (over 500) who were pulling down and carting away remnants of iron rods. Their activities triggered the collapse of a remaining slab, which fell on them.”