in light of this tragic development. The Lagos State Government has instructed residents of buildings in the state that have been designated as distressed to evacuate them right away .
It will be recalled that; On Friday, a two-story structure collapsed in the Ebute Meta neighbourhood of Lagos State, which led to the death of two middle-aged people (male and female) and a 12-year-old child.
During the rescue operation, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency disclosed that the Lagos Building Control Agency had issued evacuation notices several times on the building .
Residents’ alleged that, prior to the building collapsing, a dog that the occupants of the demolished structure had been caring for arrived to the building, and began barked sorrowfully, and would not eat or go inside. No sooner had the dog departed when the building collapsed. It was also alleged that, the building was said to have been sold around four months prior.
Speaking at the scene of the collapse, Oluyinka Olumide, the state’s commissioner for physical planning and urban development, advised residents of troubled structures in the state to leave right now because the state government would be enforcing physical planning regulations more rigorously.
Olumide expressed his condolences for the victims but said he was still perplexed as to why someone would decide to stay in a dilapidated building when there was a risk to their safety and property.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Safety Commission and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, has said it would enforce compliance to safety regulations in event centres across the state in the forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The Director-General of LSC, Mr Lanre Mojola, and the General Manager of LASEPA Dr Babatunde Ajayi, disclosed this in a statement they jointly signed on Friday.
The statement read, “In a bid to facilitate a hazard and accident-free yuletide and ensure strict compliance to extant safety and environment laws, regulations, and guidelines, the LSC in conjunction with the LASEPA will be carrying out joint monitoring and enforcement operations across the state, especially at social centres. These centres include bars and lounges, event centres, nightclubs, parks, gardens, children play areas amongst other locations with high human traffic.
“Consequently, members of the public are hereby encouraged to notify the aforementioned agencies of any safety and or environmental infractions observed during the festivities through the following numbers 07000SAFETY for Safety Commission and 07046351295 for LASEPA.”
