Alakija collapse: Lagos warns residents against ignoring evacuation notices

Alakija collapse: Lagos warns residents against ignoring evacuation notices

The Lagos State Government has commiserated with the families of victims of the building collapse at Alakija in the Oriade Local Council Development Area, and warns residents against ignoring government evacuation notices on distressed structures.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Thursday confirmed to the Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) that 26 people were rescued alive following the early Wednesday collapse of a three-storey shopping complex in the Alakija area of Lagos.

The agency added that eight others, including a baby girl, lost their lives in the incident.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, gave the warning on Friday while briefing journalists at the scene of the incident on behalf of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Omotosho said emergency responders moved swiftly to the site immediately after the collapse, resulting in the rescue of 27 persons.

“Our first duty is to commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident.

“On behalf of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we sympathise with them and pray that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.

According to him, nine persons lost their lives in the collapse in spite of  intensive rescue operations carried out throughout the night.

“By the grace of God, we have been able to rescue 27 people.

“Unfortunately, we lost nine persons and this is very sad. We share the pain of the affected families,” Omotosho said.

The commissioner disclosed that the collapsed building had previously been marked as defective, while occupants were directed to vacate the premises.

“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,” he said.

He noted that other structurally defective buildings within the vicinity would be demolished to prevent future disasters.

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“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.

Omotosho commended LASEMA, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their prompt intervention.

“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.

The commissioner stressed that residents must place greater value on human life than economic activities.

“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life.

“Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he said.

Omotosho also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings under high-tension power lines, describing the practice as dangerous and unacceptable.

“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,” he said.

He assured residents that a full investigation had commenced into the collapse and that those found culpable would face prosecution.

“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,” Omotosho said.

He added that most of the rescued victims did not suffer life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to hospitals for treatment.

The commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing building safety regulations and preventing avoidable disasters across the state.

The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr Gbenga Oyerinde also commiserated with families who lost loved ones in the incident.

“I pray God grants the families the fortitude to bear the loss, these deaths are avoidable,” he said.

Similarly LASEMA’S Permanent Secretary,  Dr Olufemi Okeosanyintolu urged residence to prioritise their lives and refrain from conducting their buisnesses in defective buildings.

” Residents should do better, if they don’t rent from this callous landlords. They will be forced to vacate the buildings, ” he said

VMT NEWS reports that officers from various emergency response units remain on the ground as investigations into the incident continue.