Structural Failure:

FHA Carries out Controlled Demolition

Federal Housing Authority on Monday 24^th March, 2025 carried out a Controlled Demolition of one of the Authority’s buildings in Gwarinpa estate, Abuja. The building, located at Block 2, A- Close, 5^th Avenue, consists of 6 numbers of 3 Bedroom flats. Among the many buildings constructed by FHA was discovered to have structural defects.

The Authority, on further conduct of Integrity Test found the building to have failed. After series of meetings and consultations with the Allottees and occupants, it was decided that no half measures would be taken other than a professionally conducted Controlled demolition.

According to the Managing Director and Chief Executive, Hon Oyetunde Ojo, the Authority considered the safety of human lives over any other thing. In reaching at the decision to pull down the building, he said that his management cannot wait until there is a disaster before acting, hence, proactive step must be taken to salvage the situation before it gets bad.

Hon Ojo said that FHA would do everything possible to construct a better building than the one that has been pulled down. He said that the attention of management was drawn to the situation of the building a year ago and management quickly stepped in to avoid any case of loss of life.

In his words, ”A year ago, our attention was called to this building, a dilapidated building of ours. We quickly carried out an integrity and soil test, and we realized that there should be a demolition exercise to be carried out.  When there is integrity test issue in any of our properties, quickly, our PI Department, Engineers and qualified staff will do the right thing. We have to sit down with the Allottees and occupiers of the place.”

 In allaying the fears of the Allottees as to what happens to their properties, he announced that the Authority would complete the new building in one year and all the Allottees would get back their houses at no cost.

In his words, “In most cases people are always afraid after demolition, they fear that their properties or their allocations would be given to somebody else.  One of the first thing is, we make sure we let them know that there is nothing to worry about; safety first, then we would re-allocate the original occupiers.  We have promised them in one year time, the building will be ready for each and every one of them.”

Continuing, Hon Ojo said. “What we are trying to do is to carry them along, and that will bring back hope to Nigerians like Mr. President said in the Renewed Hope agenda, so that people must trust government and make sure that government delivers on their promises.  So the beautiful thing about this exercise like I said is safety first in demolishing, and making sure the occupiers are given back their property. So I just want the occupiers and Allottees to know that it would be given back to them at no cost’’.

The Executive Director Project Implementation, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye in his own address aligned with the Managing Director in ensuring safety. He noted that the building failed the requisite test, and needed to be brought down through controlled demolition. The ED PI noted that, attempt at salvaging the building was never an option since the structural members of the building failed. He stated that management would put in a more professional approach in reconstructing the building, to be able to get something better than the one that has been demolished, and that his Directorate is on top of the situation to meet the Authority’s time line.

Speaking on behalf of the Allottees, Dr Ifeoma Uche Agu, whose husband owns one of the flats, was full of appreciation to the management for prompt intervention and the decision to come to their rescue. According to her, Allottees were initially afraid and skeptical that the building won’t be returned back to them, but the reassurance of the Managing Director to return back the property to them has put smiles on their faces.

In her words, “Today, I want to thank God for what is happening to me. Initially, we were scared. When we got the property, we didn't know it had structural defect. We were scared that FHA would collect the building from us, but when we wrote to them, they came to our rescue. I want to thank the MD who has assured that after building it back, all of us will get our own flat.  So am so happy, I never knew this would happen like this. Thank you for coming to our rescue and putting smiles on our faces”.