FCT Minister Muhammad Bello says FCT Administration will soon revamp the Department of Development Control, DDC, to cope with the ever increasing growth in building activities in the territory.
The minister stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving the report of the panel of inquiry into the Aug. 17 Jabi building collapse.
He expressed the hope that reinforcing the department would also place it at a vantage position to keep pace with the changing profile of the nation’s capital and improve service delivery.
The minster gave the assurance that recommendations of the panel would be implemented in order to address recurring building collapse in the FCT.
Bello, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCT Administration, Chinyeaka Ohaa, said “building collapse, we would all agree, is a universal phenomenon that is also witnessed even in advanced countries.
“Regardless, the administration is concerned that with the calibre, number and mix of professionals in the building industry in Abuja, and indeed Nigeria, the incidence of building collapse can be curtailed to the barest minimum in the country,’’ he said.
While presenting the report, Prof. Matawal Danladi, Chairman of the panel, recommended recruitment of engineers, architects and use of qualified FCDA’s field officers to forestall recurring of building collapse.
Mr Danladi, who is a professor of civil engineering, also recommended that there should be an investigation of a design and development racketeering group in the FCTA.
He said the group should be charged with the responsibility of detecting quacks and those who forge signatures.
“This should be eliminated and we are recommending a biometric report of designers, so that nobody is going to deny anything that he didn’t do well,’’ he added.
Mr Danladi, who is also the Director-General, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, said “building inspection site meetings chaired by site officers should be instituted, while well qualified engineers or architects should be used as site officers.
“Monthly regular site meetings by team of developers should be instituted and this should always be witnessed by the Department of Development Control.
“Quality Control test should be presented constantly at such meetings and should be discussed and this should be directed by the site officer.
“All re-validation process for abandoned sites should be done and a management approach should be used; this should be incorporated in the implementation process,’’ he said.
NAN
