.owner to face trial
By Our Reporter
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered demolishion of all buildings marked as distressed around the collapsed 3-storey building at Alakija area of the state.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the site on Friday, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, while issuing the order, expressed sadness as he sympathised with the families of the victims and praised emergency responders for their swift intervention on the collapsed building.
According to the governor, 27 people were rescued alive from the rubble, while nine died, noting that the search and rescue operations lasted all night.
Still at the site during the governor's visit were Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Police, Command and Control Centre, Neighborhood Watch and other agencies.
"This should not have happened, if people had obeyed the law instead of prioritizing livelihoods over lives. The collapsed building had been marked as structurally distressed and occupants were directed to vacate the premises, but the warning was ignored.
"All other buildings already marked as unsafe within the area will be demolished to prevent similar tragedies and avoid a compromise of the lives of others around.
"27 people were rescued alive, while 9 casualties were recorded during the search and rescue," he said.
Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu promised that owners of the collapsed building would be prosecuted by the state., adding that anyone found to have violated building regulations or frustrated enforcement efforts would surely face legal action.
The governor, while noting that survivors were receiving treatment at various hospitals as the cause of the collapse is being investigated, strongly condemned the construction of buildings beneath high-tension electricity lines, describing the practice as "dangerous" and "suicidal."
"Owners of the collapsed and other distressed buildings will be prosecuted for culpability in the incident, according to the law of Lagos State.
"You cannot build under high-tension power lines. It is dangerous and unacceptable in any civilized society. It shows disregard for the law, and the government will not tolerate that," the governor said.
The government, therefore, urged residents to comply with safety directives, stressing that protecting lives remained its top priority.
LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, also commended all first responders and security personnel who worked tirelessly for the evacuation of survivors as the building was brought to ground zero.
Also on the inspection tour was the Commissioner for Special Duties, Gbenga Oyerinde, who also praised the first responders "for their efforts."
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