The Lagos State Government has ordered the demolition of all buildings identified as structurally distressed around the site of the three-storey building that collapsed in the Alakija area of the state, following an incident that claimed nine lives and left 27 others rescued.
The directive was announced on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during an inspection of the collapse site.
Omotoso said the government took the decision to prevent a recurrence of similar tragedies, adding that owners of the collapsed building and other distressed structures found to have violated building regulations would be prosecuted.
According to him, the collapsed building had earlier been declared unsafe and occupants were directed to vacate the premises, but the warning was ignored.
He said, “This should not have happened, if people had obeyed the law instead of prioritising livelihoods over lives. The collapsed building had been marked as structurally distressed and occupants were directed to vacate the premises, but the warning was ignored.”
The commissioner disclosed that emergency responders rescued 27 persons alive from the rubble, while nine others died during the overnight search and rescue operation.
He said, “Governor Sanwo-Olu is saddened by this incident. He sends his condolences. Twenty-seven people were rescued alive, while nine casualties were recorded during the search and rescue. Governor Sanwo-Olu commiserates with the families who lost their loved ones.”
Omotoso stated that all buildings already marked as unsafe within the vicinity would be pulled down to safeguard residents.
He said, “All other buildings already marked as unsafe within the area will be demolished to prevent similar tragedies and avoid a compromise of the lives of others around.”
The commissioner also warned against the construction of buildings beneath high-tension electricity lines, describing the practice as dangerous and unacceptable.
“You cannot build under high-tension power lines. It is dangerous and unacceptable in any civilised society. It shows disregard for the law, and the government will not tolerate that,” he said.
He added that investigations into the cause of the collapse were ongoing, while survivors were receiving treatment in various hospitals across the state.
Omotoso further vowed that the owners of the collapsed building and others found culpable would face prosecution.
He said, “Owners of the collapsed and other distressed buildings will be prosecuted for culpability in the incident, according to the law of Lagos State.”
The Commissioner advised residents occupying buildings around the scene to relocate immediately and commended officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Police, the Command and Control Centre, the Neighbourhood Safety Corps and other emergency responders for their efforts.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, praised emergency workers and security personnel for their dedication throughout the rescue operation.
He said, “I commend all first responders and security personnel who worked tirelessly for the evacuation of survivors as the building was brought to ground zero.”
