As more bodies are being recovered from the site of a 21-storey building that collapsed on Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday, a former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Ade Dosunmu, has called on the state government to sanction building control/regulatory agencies officials found to have been negligent in the discharge of their duties.
Dosunmu also commiserated with the families of the victims of the collapsed building.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed on Tuesday that 20 bodies have so far been recovered from under the rubbles at the site of collapsed 21-storey building.
In a press statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, Dr Dosunmu said it was “most unfortunate and heart rending to hear of, yet again, another collapsed building in our dear Lagos State”.
He said, “Our Centre of Excellence that is renowned for quality edifices that have lasted over a century unscathed. I hereby commensurate with the families of the deceased and pray for fortitude to bear the loss.”
The former NIMASA Director-General called on Lagos State Government and building control/regulatory agencies to wake up to their responsibilities of ensuring that no contractor cuts corners and every building material is up to global standards.
“The lives and property of every Lagosian is precious and must be treated as such. The government must make a surgical inquiry into this avoidable mishap, make the findings public and bring those responsible or negligent to book so as to serve as deterrent to others,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday ordered the suspension of the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki. The governor also said the government would find out what went wrong and punish those indicted in the collapsed 21-storey building.
