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By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Government has announced plans to demolish all structurally distressed buildings marked for removal in the Alakija area of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area following the collapse of a three-storey shopping complex that claimed nine lives.
The government also warned residents against ignoring evacuation notices issued on defective buildings, stressing that no means of livelihood is worth risking human life.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists during an inspection of the collapse site on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
He said the state government sympathised with the families of the victims and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives through strict enforcement of building safety regulations.
“On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we commiserate with the families who have lost their loved ones. We pray that we never witness this kind of tragedy again,” Omotoso said.
According to him, emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Police, the Military and other agencies, responded swiftly to the incident, rescuing 27 people alive.
“By the grace of God, 27 people were rescued alive, although sadly, nine lives were lost,” he said.
Omotoso revealed that the collapsed building had previously been identified as structurally defective and marked for evacuation, but occupants allegedly ignored the government’s directive and returned to the premises.
“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as defective and people were asked to leave them. Unfortunately, they refused to comply, and this led to what happened,” he said.
The commissioner announced that all other buildings identified as unsafe within the area would be demolished to avert similar tragedies.
“All the buildings that have been marked will come down. We will not allow dangerous structures to remain standing because the safety of lives is our priority,” he said.
He warned that anyone found to have violated building regulations or obstructed enforcement efforts would face prosecution.
“Whoever is found to have breached the law will face the full weight of the law. Appropriate legal action will be taken against anyone responsible,” Omotoso added.
The commissioner also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension electricity lines, describing the practice as dangerous and unacceptable.
“You cannot build under high-tension power lines. It is dangerous and unacceptable in any civilised society. It shows disregard for the law, and the government will not tolerate it,” he said.
Urging residents to comply with government safety directives, Omotoso stressed that human life must always take precedence over economic considerations.
“The most important lesson here is that we should never prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost,” he said.
He added that victims rescued from the collapsed building had been taken to hospitals for treatment, while investigations into the cause of the collapse were ongoing.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, described the deaths as avoidable and prayed for the bereaved families.
“I pray God grants the families the fortitude to bear the loss. These deaths are avoidable,” he said.
Similarly, LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, urged residents to avoid occupying distressed buildings.
“Residents should do better. If they refuse to rent or patronise these callous landlords, they will be forced to vacate the buildings,” he said.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday when the three-storey shopping complex collapsed in the Alakija area, trapping scores of occupants. Rescue operations continued through the night before the operation was concluded.
