The Lagos State Government has announced that it will examine the collapse of a three-story building in the state’s Alakija neighborhood and prosecute anyone found responsible, while advising people not to ignore evacuation alerts given for damaged structures.
Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, issued the warning on Friday while briefing journalists at the scene of the tragedy on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Omotoso expressed condolences to the victims’ families, calling the tragedy regrettable.
“Our first duty is to commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we sympathize with them and pray that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.
He revealed that 27 people were retrieved alive from the wreckage, but nine others died despite midnight rescue operations.
“By the grace of God, we have been able to rescue 27 people. Unfortunately, we lost nine persons, and this is very sad. We share the pain of the affected families,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the fallen structure was previously labeled as troubled and designated for evacuation, although some people apparently returned after leaving.
“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed, and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.
He also noted that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.
“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,” he said.
Omotoso also opposed the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, calling the practice dangerous and inappropriate.
“It is not done in any civilized society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.
He informed locals that a thorough investigation following the collapse had begun, emphasizing that anyone found culpable would face criminal charges.
According to the commissioner, the majority of the rescued people received non-life-threatening injuries, while those who required additional medical attention were transported to the hospital.
He also thanked the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighborhood safety officials, and other emergency responders for their prompt action.
“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he stated.
Omotoso asked citizens to prioritize safety over economic concerns.
“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritize livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.
Chronicle NG reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.
According to initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, 26 people were retrieved alive, while eight people died in the event, including a baby girl.
However, the state government’s most recent update reported 27 rescued and nine dead.
