Lagos orders demolition of structure as building collapses

[TGD]

 CONFUSION broke out yesterday at the Lagos State Secretariat, Ikeja when a one-storey building under construction was said to have collapsed, trapping seven workers including the site engineer. Two persons were critically injured.

But a government statement said: "The state government wishes to appeal to members of the public and staff in the secretariat to discountenance the rumour that there was a building collapse."

It stated that Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola "ordered the demolition of a structure beside the secretariat complex upon the professional advice of the Ministry of Physical Planning when it was observed to be defective."

It added: "In the process of the pulling down, a section of the structure caved in and trapped some of the demolition squad who were eventually rescued by Lagos State rescue team comprising LASEMA, Fire Service and LASAMBUS.

"The head of the squad, Mr. Kunle Adeniyi who is from the Ministry of Physical Planning confirmed that the caving in of the structure was a confirmation of the earlier suspected defect.

" No loss of lives was recorded.

"The building, which collapsed at about 2:30 p.m. was allocated to accommodate the Office of Drainage Services, an arm of the Lagos State Ministry for the Environment.

The collapse practically paralysed work at the secretariat as civil servants trooped to the site of the collapsed building to ascertain the extent of damage.

The incident also attracted the attention of the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello and the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Mr. Muyideen Akinsanya who mobilised the fire service as well as the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) to rescue the trapped workers.

 



The Guardian