One killed, 4 injured as 2 buildings collapse

 IT was a harvest of collapse buildings in Lagos in the last two days where three buildings have collapsed at different locations in the state leaving at least two dead and several others injured.

While rescue operations were still on to save the lives of victims trapped under the collapsed building in Isheri area of Ojodu Berger, two other buildings located in Ikorodu and Bariga areas of Lagos, caved in yesterday.

COLLAPSED BUILDINGS— A building under construction collapsed at 6, Adenaike Alagbe Street,Ejina, in Ikorodu, Lagos, yesterday, injuring two children. Photo: NAN

One of them located on 9, Shogbemu Street, Bariga reportedly left one person dead while two

persons were rescued.

The second, a three-storey building is located on 6, Adenaike Street, Ejina area of Ikorodu.

It reportedly collapsed at noon where two yet-to-be identified children were said to have been rescued from the building and rushed to the hospital.

The three-storey building said to be under construction, had several shops on the first floor.

But it was found to have been marked for possible demolition before it caved in, yesterday.

Vanguard gathered that the injured children were discharged from the hospital two hours later.

Lagos State spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA,  Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed both incidents toVanguard, saying rescue work was on-going.

One rescued from Tuesday’s collapsed building

Meantime, one person was yesterday afternoon rescued and taken to the hospital 24 hours after the three-storey building under construction at  24, Bashiru Street, Ojodu-Berger of Lagos, collapsed killing a worker.

Vanguard observed the rescue of the yet-to be identified workers by NEMA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, and Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC.

NEMA, LASEMA and FRSC were busy in their operations when suddenly a hand was seen waving from under the debris.

On noticing the hand, the rescue team immediately rushed to the spot where the trapped worker was pulled out of the debris and taken to hospital.

Construction not approved —Ayinde

However, Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, said the construction was not approved by government.

According to him, the area belonged to the Federal Government and claimed that the approval number written on the building was Federal Government’s permit.

He said the state would soon  investigate what led to the collapse, noting: “We have already captured the permit of Federal Government on the land. When we are able to get the owners of the building, we will be able to confirm if the building permit was genuine. We also learnt that the building has been on for some time. Until we are able to sight the building plans before we will know whether it was a two-floor building that was approved or four storey-building. What the law states now is that after due process and if the result of the investigation indicates that the owner compromises, the property will be forfeited, and if we are able to get the professionals in charge, we will prosecute them.”

Lawmaker blames Physical Planning ministry

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Deputy Leader, Lola Akande, has blamed the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development for the collapse of the  building.

Akande, who visited the site, expressed shock over the incident, lamenting that the building had been marked for demolition, but was left undemolished until it collapsed, killing two people and injuring others.