THE Lagos State Government, on Friday, June 26, confirmed the death of at least nine persons, with many others injured on Thursday’s after a multi-storey building collapsed in Alakija, Oriade Local Council Development Area, in spite of intensive rescue operations carried out throughout the night, and 27 others were rescued.
While commiserating with victims’ families, the government warned residents of the state against ignoring evacuation notices on distressed structures.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, while briefing journalists at the scene of the incident, on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said emergency responders moved swiftly to the site immediately after the collapse, resulting in the rescue of 27 persons.
The commissioner disclosed that the affected building had previously been marked as defective, while occupants were directed to vacate the premises, “unfortunately, some residents returned, after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome.”
He stated that other structurally defective buildings within the vicinity would be demolished to prevent future disasters, adding: “All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action.
“The protection of lives remains our priority.”
Omotoso commended all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” urging residents to place greater value on human life than economic activities, saying “once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for.”
He condemned the construction and occupation of buildings under high-tension power lines, describing the practice as dangerous and unacceptable, noting that such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law, vowing that “government will continue to clamp down on such violations.”
He assured residents that a full investigation had commenced into the collapse and that those found culpable would face prosecution, because no one is above the law.
The commissioner explained that most of the rescued victims did not suffer life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to hospitals for treatment.
