Lagos State Government says it has opened a probe into the collapse of a seven-storey building under construction on Banana Island, Ikoyi, following Governor Babajide SanwoOlu’s directive.
NigeriaCheck Newspaper learnt that nobody died so far, in the incident, which occurred on Wednesday. Twenty-five people were rescued from the site.
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, noted that it has scanned the building with a high-precision 3-D Laser Imagery System for life and found no evidence of anyone trapped in the rubble.
It added that a roll call was also taken by the site supervisors, and everyone was accounted for.
Meanwhile, LASEMA said it has continued with the excavation of the site, using the architectural designs, noting that the site has also been divided into quadrants for a painstaking search and rescue operation.
It explained that presently, quadrants 2 and 3 have been levelled to ground zero, having completed the search operation. Quadrants 1 and 4 are ongoing.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Bamgbose-Martins, an engineer and Special Adviser on Special Duties, Mobolaji Ogunlende, are on ground coordinating the operations, while LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, is leading the operations.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has visited the site and hospitals, where victims of the incident were admitted.
According to a statement by the Commissioner of Information & Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, Of the 25 persons rescued by LASEMA, 16 with moderate injuries were admitted at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island and Police Hospital, Falomo for treatment and care. Nine others with minor injuries, such as bruises, were treated and discharged at the site by the State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS.
Of the 16 persons on admission, 11 were taken to Police Hospital, Falomo. Eight of the 11 persons have been treated and discharged. Some are required to come for daily follow-up and management. Three with various injuries, including blunt traumatic chest injury, knee injuries, deep lacerations and others, are on admission.
At the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, there are five patients with more serious injuries.
The State Government, as a matter of policy, will be responsible for the emergency treatment and care, including the medical bills of victims on admission. It will also provide post-trauma counselling support and care for all victims through the Lagos MiND programme (Mental Health in Development) – a free mental health counselling and support service provided by the Ministry of Health.
Preliminary investigations have shown the incident occurred during concrete casting. Eyewitnesses said one of the concrete mixer trucks rammed into some load-bearing columns of the building, causing a loud bang and leading to the collapse.
The building was hitherto sealed by the State Government for not having the approval to commence construction, but the developers continued to build, hiding under the security of their estate/gated community.
Governor SanwoOlu has directed that all developments on Banana Island be placed on hold, subject to a comprehensive audit by officials of the State Building Control Agency, LASBCA.
This is to determine:
• How many buildings are being constructed without approval from the Lagos State Government; and
• If all approved buildings are being built in line with the approval limits provided.
This exercise will be extended to other estates and gated communities.