Following the collapse of a seven-storey building under construction in Banana Island, Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed a comprehensive audit of all developments on the island.
The audit by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) will determine how many buildings are being constructed without approval from the Lagos State Government and whether all approved buildings are being constructed within the provided limits. This exercise will be extended to other estates and gated communities.
The Lagos State Government has also launched an investigation into the collapse of the building, which had been sealed by the government for not having the approval to commence construction. According to a news release by the Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the developers continued to build, hiding under the security of their estate/gated community.
Although there have been no fatalities, 25 people were rescued from the site and taken to hospitals for treatment. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) is still excavating the site using architectural designs, and the site has been divided into quadrants for a search and rescue operation.
The state government has taken responsibility for the emergency treatment and care of victims on admission, including their medical bills. The government will provide post-trauma counseling support and care for all victims through the Lagos MiND program, a free mental health counseling and support service provided by the Ministry of Health.
Preliminary investigations have shown that the collapse occurred during concrete casting when one of the concrete mixer trucks rammed into some load-bearing columns of the building.
