ALAKIJA: Lagos warns residents after building collapse kills 9, urges compliance with evacuation notices

Cityscope

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Government has commiserated with the families of victims of Thursday’s building collapse at Alakija in the Satellite Town area of Oriade Local Council Development Area, which claimed at least nine lives and left 27 others injured.

The government also issued a stern warning to residents against ignoring evacuation notices issued for distressed buildings.

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

Omotoso said emergency responders arrived at the site immediately after the collapse, leading to the rescue of 27 people, while intensive overnight operations recovered nine bodies.

He disclosed that the collapsed building had previously been marked as structurally defective and 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.

The commissioner said other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.

He commended the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift intervention.

Omotoso stressed that residents must place greater value on human life than economic activities and condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines.

“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 into the collapse had commenced and warned that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.

“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,” Omotoso said.

According to him, most of the rescued victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to hospitals for treatment.

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