The draft Government White Paper on the collapsed four-storey building in Utako, Abuja, has asked for further explanations from top FCDA officials over their roles in the collapsed building saga.

Chairman of the White Paper drafting committee set up by the FCT Administration and Permanent Secretary in the FCTA, Dr. Rafeeq Ogunbambi who addressed newsmen in Abuja last week, said that government has also directed the FCTA Legal Services Secretariat to immediately prosecute the directors of Exposee Ltd., the developer of the building for failing to respond to the committee’s invitation to testify.

The white paper also recommended sanctions for those found wanting, stating that government accepts and recommends the Establishment and Training Directorate to initiate administrative action as appropriate.

The officials include two directors, a former and the other a serving director of FCT Development Control Department, two deputy directors and other senior officials who have been asked to explain why there was a resurrection of the file on the building when there was a ministerial order to suspend treatment of files with revocation history.

Other officials were asked to explain reasons for the deviation from the approved plan. One of them, a Deputy Director (Building), was said to have given stage approval "even when he himself raised doubts about the stability of the structure while visiting the site."

A Town Planning Officer, according to the White Paper, was asked to explain reasons for carrying out assessment visits alone in disregard of the Development Control procedures.

An Assistant Director Amina R. Agellah, who was earlier suspended by FCTA, was however, absolved of any blame. According to the White Paper, her  connection to the incident was only by virtue of being Head of Building Permit and Enforcement for the area, adding that the "officer had no direct contact with the project, and was on leave when the initial approvals were given."

The white paper also called for the restructuring of the Development Control Department in line with the provisions of the Urban and Regional Planning Act 1992 by setting up the  FCT Urban and Regional Planning Board to provide an efficient supervisory framework for the Department alongside the required structures at the Area Councils of the FCT.

It also said that there is compelling need, on a short-term measure to constitute an Interim Development Control Management Committee that would assist the Department in midwifing the establishment of the major restructuring envisaged.