BY CHINYERE OBIORA, LAGOS – Following the collapse of the 21-storey Ikoyi building that has so far claimed about 15 lives, the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki is now on an indefinite suspension from duty.
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who axed the LASBCA boss, has also vowed to unravel the cause of the incident and punish all persons indicted in the incident.
Besides those already confirmed dead at the building site at Gerrard Road in Ikoyi on Monday, several others are still trapped and feared dead in the debris.
With Oki, an architect, as the first casualty on the government side for alleged ‘negligence of duty’, Governor Sanwo-Olu, has constituted an independent panel to probe the incident.
Members of the panel are drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA); the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP); and the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), among other professional bodies.
A statement by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the State Government will set up an independent panel to probe the collapse of the building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi.
Members of the panel will be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), and other professional bodies.
The statement said; “It will independently investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence. The investigation is not part of the internal probe already being conducted by the government.”
According to Omotoso, more equipment and personnel have been deployed in the site to save more lives, adding; “Nine persons, all men, have been pulled out of the rubble alive. They have been taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, 14 others were brought out dead – as at 2 pm.
“Mr. Sanwo-Olu thanks all first responders and those who have joined the rescue efforts, including construction giants Julius Berger, Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).”
The Commissioner further explained that; “A help desk is to be set up at the site for people seeking information about their relations who may have been involved in the incident. The media are hereby notified that the government will be releasing information whenever the need arises to avoid any sensational reporting of the unfortunate incident.”
He said the State government will embark on further foundation and borehole acidic level tests to ascertain the impact on the collapsed building, adding that; “These tests, particularly the borehole acidic level, are important for the entire Gerrard Road and adjoining areas.”
