The Lagos state government has announced plans to demolish all structurally distressed buildings earlier marked for removal in the Alakija area of Amuwo-Odofin local government area following Thursday’s three-storey building collapse that claimed nine lives.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists during an inspection of the site.
Omotoso said the government sympathised with the families of the victims and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives through strict enforcement of building regulations.
“On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we commiserate with the families who have lost their loved ones. We pray that we never witness this kind of tragedy again,” he said.
He commended emergency responders for their swift intervention, confirming that 27 people were rescued alive from the rubble.
“I want to commend all our emergency responders, including LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASBCA, the police, the military, the Command and Control Centre and other agencies for their prompt response. By the grace of God, 27 people were rescued alive, although, sadly, nine lives were lost,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the collapsed building had previously been identified as structurally defective and marked for evacuation, but occupants ignored the government’s directive to vacate the premises.
“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as defective and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, they refused to comply, and this led to what happened,” he said.
He said all other buildings identified as structurally unsafe in the area would be pulled down to avert similar tragedies.
“All the buildings that have been marked will come down. We will not allow dangerous structures to remain standing because the safety of lives is our priority,” Omotoso said.
He warned that anyone found to have violated building regulations or obstructed enforcement efforts would face prosecution.
“Whoever is found to have breached the law will face the full weight of the law. Appropriate legal action will be taken against anyone responsible.
“You cannot build under high-tension power lines. It is dangerous and unacceptable in any civilised society. It shows disregard for the law, and the government will not tolerate it,” he said.
He urged residents to comply with government safety directives, cautioning that no means of livelihood was worth risking human life.
“The most important lesson here is that we should never prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost,” he said.