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The Lagos State Government has ordered the demolition of distressed buildings across the state following the collapse of a three-storey structure in the Alakija area, saying those responsible for the incident will be investigated and prosecuted.
Speaking at the scene on Friday on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, also warned residents against returning to buildings that had been marked unsafe or ignoring official evacuation notices.
Omotoso expressed condolences to the families of those who died in the collapse, describing the incident as a tragic loss.
“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 sympathise with them and pray that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.
He disclosed that 27 people were rescued alive from the rubble, while nine people died despite rescue operations that continued overnight.
According to him, the collapsed building had previously been identified as distressed and marked for evacuation, but some occupants allegedly returned after initially complying with the order to leave.
He said all other buildings identified as structurally defective in the area would be pulled down to prevent similar incidents, stressing that protecting lives remained the government’s priority.
“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.
“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 criticised the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension electricity lines, describing the practice as a violation of safety regulations that would not be tolerated.
He said investigations had commenced into the collapse, adding that the owners of the building and anyone found responsible would face prosecution.
“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations.
“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.
The commissioner noted that while most of the rescued victims escaped with minor injuries, those requiring additional medical care had been taken to hospital.
He also commended emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military and neighbourhood safety personnel, for their efforts throughout the rescue operation.
He urged residents to prioritise their safety, warning that no business or source of income was worth risking human lives for.
The three-storey building, which housed shops and other business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area on Thursday, triggering a large-scale emergency response. While earlier reports indicated that 26 people were rescued and eight died, the Lagos State Government said updated figures showed 27 survivors and nine fatalities.
