The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has engaged the Nigeria Building and Roads Research Institute (NBRRI) to carry out integrity tests on some buildings located at Guzape District, Abuja.

Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigerian (NAN), in Abuja on Saturday.

Galadima explained that the move became necessary after a developer, Nicholas Ukachukwu Praco Ltd, demolished a semi-detached duplex building located in an estate at at Plot 456, Guzape, over structural defects.

He said that the department had sealed the premises and engaged NBRRI to investigate the demolished building, including two other duplexes under construction on Plots 454 and 458, by the same developer.

“We decided to investigate the integrity of the buildings because the demolition of the one with visible defects was done without the approval of Development Control.

“This is necessary to forestall recurrence and ensure that all buildings are constructed in line with the provisions of building codes and other safety regulations,” he said.

Also, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, acting Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) told NAN that some passersby alerted the department to the development.

Wenegieme said that FEMD responded and visited the location along with personnels from the Asokoro Divisional Police Command, Department of Development Control, FCT Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency and the FCT Red Cross.

“The passersby made their observations known to the owner of the property, who acknowledged the defects and decided to demolish the structure immediately.

“There was no loss of lives, and no one was trapped in the building,” she said.

She assured the department’s timely response to emergencies to avert loss of lives.

She advised developers to pay due diligence to building codes and engage only professional builders and engineers for quality execution of projects. (NAN)