FCDA Officials Cover Up For Anambra Billionaire, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Claim Building Collapses In Abuja Were 'Controlled Demolition'

Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCDA) have been accused of covering up the incessant collapse of buildings under construction by Praco Ltd owned by an Anambra-born, billionaire, Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu.

SaharaReporters had reported the building collapse in Guzape, which is being constructed by the company last week, but in apparent cover-up, FCDA officials announced that it was not a collapse but controlled demolition. 

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses have described the claim as "false." 

"This person, Nicholas Ukachukwu whose building collapsed at Guzape also had one of his houses collapse on Saturday at Prince and Princess Estate owned by him," a source revealed to SaharaReporters. 

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"The plot of land is located at Plot 458 Gambo Jimeta Crescent, near COZA church, GUZAPE, Abuja. On Saturday another building of his collapsed in the Gudu area," the source added on Tuesday.

The FCT Emergency Management Department had in a release on June 29, 2024, signed by Head, Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, claimed that a passerby, who noticed a defect on a house in Plot 458 Guzape District Abuja, alerted the FCT Emergency Management Department, (FEMD), who arrived the incident scene with members of the Asokoro Divisional Police Command and demolished the property in consent with the developer.

Titled: "Structural Defects; FCTA Orders Demolition Of A Building At Guzape," the FEMD stated "A building belonging to Nicholas Ukachukwu Praco Ltd Estate located at Plot 458 Guzape District Abuja has been demolished. The building had some structural defects.

"A passerby, who noticed the defect alerted the FCT Emergency Management Department, (FEMD) who arrived at the incident scene with members of the Asokoro Divisional Police Command.

"They made their observations known to the owner of the property, who agreed to demolish the structure, which he did immediately. There was no loss of lives and no one was trapped in the building."

The statement noted that the FEMD rescue team, development control, the Asokoro Divisional Police Command, FCT Fire Service, NEMA, and FCT Red Cross were on the ground at the incident scene.

The statement quoted, the Director Department of Development Control, TPL Mukhtar U. Galadima to have directed the sealing up of the premises and engaged the Nigeria Building and Roads Research Institute (NBRRI) to conduct an integrity test on all the buildings under construction within plots 454 and 458 Guzape District; being developed by the same company.

"Also speaking, the Ag Director General of FEMD, Mrs Florence Wenegieme appealed to developers and individuals to observe; building codes at all times." 

She also urged developers to always carry out integrity tests on existing buildings before carrying out renovations.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that a yet-to-be-confirmed number of workers were feared dead as the building at Nicholas Ukachukwu’s Praco Limited Estate located in Guzape, collapsed on Friday.

A source around the area told SaharaReporters that a rescue operation was going on but had been hindered by heavy rainfall.

Providing a background, the source recalled that “Plot 458 GUZAPE is one of the 111 plots in Abuja illegally acquired by Nicholas Ukachukwu, an Anambra businessman whose Company, Praco Limited, is accused of conniving with civil servants in the FCDA to allocate more than 100 plots of land running into thousands of hectares to his company in what is regarded as one of Abuja’s largest land heists or grab."

He added, “The lands were acquired without ministerial approval in July 2023, when there was no minister to have approved the land allocation. 

“On assumption of office and following complaints from some of the original allottees of the land, the new Minster, Wike ordered the revocation of the illegally acquired plots.

“Construction work was stopped and demolition was carried out on one plot at the Sunrise area that Praco had entered and started construction.  

“Nicholas Ukachukwu had at the time accused the minister of ordering the demolition because he is Igbo man, an assertion that was quickly debunked as blackmail by a man who has an odious reputation for sleazy land deals and racketeering in Abuja.

“Several of the people whose lands were revoked and awarded to Nicholas Ukachukwu are currently in court.

“Unfortunately, Ukachukwu continues to use his financial resources to frustrate the cases in court and bribe FCDA officials who have turned a blind an eye to his illegal construction on the plots revoked by the FCT Minister.

“Sources indicated that the FCT Minister is frustrated by the antics and connivance of civil servants in FCT in this scandal.”