A total of 22 bodies have been recovered from the rubble of the 21-storey building that collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday afternoon.
The latest development comes as search and rescue operations by emergency workers intensified at the scene of the incident.
The total number of persons who were on-site is still unclear, however, officials have been able to account for 31 persons, 22 dead and nine alive.
The 21-storey building, a high-rise under construction located along Gerrard Road in the nation’s commercial hub was billed to be completed in 2022.
On Tuesday, a day after the collapse, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu suspended the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, indefinitely.
He also announced that an independent panel will probe and investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident, as well as make recommendations on how to prevent future collapses.
This is in addition to an internal probe the government is already conducting.
“There will be absolutely no cover-up in the search for truth in this incident. If anyone is found to be indicted, he/she will definitely face the law,” the governor vowed.
“My sincere condolences go to the families who have lost loved ones. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
“My appreciation (goes) to the first responders and all who have joined the rescue efforts. A help desk has been set up at the site for people seeking information about their relations who may have been involved in the incident.”
Members of the panel to be constituted, according to Governor Sanwo-Olu, 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.
