many on Democracy Day
- Hours after a building collapsed in Lagos on
Democracy Day killing two people, the
government has tasked residents to
henceforth speak out
- The Lagos state government says incessant
collapse can be stopped if the residents are
ready to release information about defective
buildings
The Lagos government has insisted that whistle-
blowing is the surest way to tackle the incessant
building collapse in the state.
The statement obtained by Newslanded is in reaction to the collapse of a building on Monday, May 29 leading
to the death of two people. Others are said to be
trapped as rescue operations have continued.
The government said Lagosians must be willing to
assist government by raising alarm whenever they
see any illegal development in any area of the state.
Two people have so far being reported to have died
from the incident
The commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban
Development, Tpl Wasiu Anifowoshe, gave the
charge at the site of the collapsed building at 9, Daddy
Alaja Street, Idumota, Lagos Island.
It was learnt that the building was a defective three-
storey under illegal renovation with occupants still
residing in it.
Anifowoshe said: "This is one out of several
worrisome experiences we face everyday on the job.
"Dealing with illegal developments here and there in
Lagos state should be a joint effort between
Lagosians and government.
"We need information of such unlawful activities from
responsible Lagosians so as to be able to curb the
excesses of unscrupulous developers and owners of
property in Lagos state.”
He added that to avert such occurrences, the state
government recently recruited additional field
officers to ensure effective monitoring of defective
structures however noting that government cannot
do it alone.
"A distress call to 767 or 117 would have averted this
ugly incident.
"In this particular case, the owners took advantage of
the long Holiday and the fact that the building is
hidden right inside those narrow streets in Lagos
Island to quickly carry out an unlawful renovation but
unfortunately, the building came down.”
Anifowoshe, however, said that the state Rescue
Team from relevant agencies were fully on ground
making combined efforts in the ongoing rescue
operation being carried out.
He added that so far, reports show that two people
have died and 14 victims who were trapped have
been rescued alive and given adequate medical
treatment.
Newslanded had earlier reported that the building collapsed killing two people and injuring 14 others.
It was gathered from a reliable source at the scene of
the incident that it happened around 7.30 am, at
Daddy Alaja Street, Oke Arin on Lagos Island.
The source said that the two dead persons, a man
and a woman, whose identities could not be
confirmed by the respondents, were pulled out of the
debris from the three-storey building.
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