A three-storey building collapsed yesterday in the Wuse area of Abuja, and there was no loss of lives in the incident. There is an important development in the case of Wuse Zone 4/Zone 3 Area, with reports identifying Abidjan Street and the one in the same vicinity.

According to the FCTA Development Control Department, they had already marked and sealed the building earlier that day and ordered occupants to leave because it was considered structurally unsafe.

Authorities said approximately 90 per cent of occupants’ belongings were salvaged before excavation and demolition work began. They say the building had been identified as unsafe after one of its supporting pillars collapsed, prompting the demolition, evacuation action.

The building, according to sources, was used for commercial and residential purposes and between 7:00–8:00 p.m. Monday; police said they received a distress call at about 7:45 p.m.

It was gathered that the collapse deserves serious scrutiny because the building reportedly went down after being identified as unsafe and sealed by the authorities.

“No casualties have been confirmed. Today’s update from the FCT Emergency Management Department says no deaths or injuries were recorded.”

As at the time of filling this report, FCT Fire Service, NEMA, police, FRSC, FERMA, FCTA and other agencies were in the site, participating in the search and rescue operation. Heavy equipment was subsequently brought in to remove the remaining structure.

However the Wuse building collapse could become a case study of the gap between building regulation, enforcement and actual compliance in Abuja.