NO LIFE WAS LOST IN THE BANANA ISLAND 7-STOREY BUILDING COLLAPSE – LASEMA
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Permanent secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Oke Osanyitolu, has disclosed that no life was lost during the 7-storey building collapse in close 102, 1st Avenue, Ocean Parade, Banana Island Estate, Ikoyi on Wednesday.
Osanyitolu disclosed this while speaking to the press on Thursday at the site of the incident.
While briefing the press, he stated that seven persons have been taken to the hospital for treatment while another one sustained high degree of injuries.
He noted that, one person who was around at the scene of the incident is still missing however, a denser has been brought in to ascertain if anyone is still trapped in the rubble.
“Our response was Swift and we didn’t recognize any dead body with our machines
Seven people were rescued alive , only one was taken to where he is receiving adequate treatment”
“Excavation has moved to ground zero to ensure transparency, and nobody is left in there.
“The CSO says they have done an account for all the people on site, but one person has not been accounted for.”
“Concerning the other buildings, we are going to carry put holistic investigation to ascertain their strength”.
The special adviser to the Governor on special duties, Mobolaji Ogunlende, who was also at the collapsed building site said that, although the cause of the collapse is still sketchy but, proper investigation are ongoing to look into the cause.
A site of four complexes all interlinked, we want to do an Integrity test on it. Investigation is ongoing and at the end the next steps would be decided.
The cause of the collapse has not been ascertained yet , investigations are still ongoing.”
“The lagos state government will ensure that tests are done to ascertain the currents status of the remaining buildings for the next level action to be taken.” he added
While responding to the incessant cases of building collapses, he appealed to people to abide by the rules and regulations when building.
On his assessment of environmental health of the construction site, Head, Environmental Services, Ikoyi-Obalende, Dr. Akingbehin Samuel, said: “Getting here, we can say there is no biological effect in this place. So, what we have to do is that people are cordoned off, we want to take stock of people coming here.
“We are much on the ground to prevent possible contamination and spread of diseases. Residents should maintain their peace because there is no danger to their health and the environment. Everyone should remain calm and this shouldn’t be seen as a tourist centre.”
However, the Lagos State government has also said it had launched a probe into the incident, following a directive by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in a statement, said nobody died in the incident, while 25 people were rescued from the site.
He stressed that LASEMA scanned the incident with a high-precision 3-D Laser Imagery System for life, and found no evidence of anyone trapped in the rubble.
According to him, a roll call has also been done by the site supervisors, with everyone accounted for.
He said: “ LASEMA has continued with the excavation of the site, using the architectural designs. The site has been divided into quadrants for a painstaking search and rescue operation.
“Presently, quadrants two and three have been levelled to ground zero, with the search operation completed. Quadrants one and four are ongoing.
“Physical Planning and Urban Development Commissioner, Bamgbose-Martins, an engineer, and Special Duties Adviser, Mobolaji Ogunlende, are co-ordinating the operations. LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, is leading the search-and-rescue efforts.
“Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has visited the site and hospitals where victims of the incident were admitted.
“Of the 25 persons rescued by LASEMA, 16 with moderate injuries were admitted at General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island and Police Hospital Falomo for treatment and care. Nine others with minor injuries, such as bruises, were treated and discharged at the site by Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS).
“Of the 16 persons on admission, 11 were taken to Police Hospital Falomo. Some are required to come for daily follow-up and management. Three with various injuries, including blunt traumatic chest injury, knee injuries, deep lacerations and others, are on admission.
“At the General Hospital Odan, Lagos Island, there are five patients with more serious injuries.
“The state government, as a matter of policy, will be responsible for the emergency treatment and care, including the medical bills of the patients on admission, It will also provide a post-trauma counselling support and care for all victims through the Lagos MiND programme (Mental Health in Development), a free mental health counselling and support service provided by the Ministry of Health.”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, who was also present at the site, assured that his men will be on ground to support and ensure that smooth operations are done in a more secured environment.
Earlier in the day, Journalist were barred by the estate agents from accessing the site of the collapsed building.
The newsmen which arrived at the gate around 7:00am were denied access to the estate, with mobile policemen stationed at the entrance, who only allowed foreign media practitioners access to the construction site.
It took about three hours of waiting, before journalist were granted access, not without the head of security in the estate harassing and hurling insults at them.
Recall that on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at around 5:00 p.m., the building which is one of Joe Faraday’s four units collapsed while employees were still on site
In fact, the Lagos State government has ordered that all activities on Banana Island be put on hold pending the results of an exhaustive audit by the LASBCA.
The government also announced that it would expand its audit to include further estates and gated communities.
The General Manager, LASBCA, Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, has ordered that private security operatives manning the facility be ordered out of the premises as it now belongs to Lagos State government.
He led officials to weld lock up all the gates.
ALSO, the immediate past President of Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) Mr. Kunle Awobodu, has said the collapse of building in Banana Island estate, is an indictment on professionalism in the country.
He called on the government, especially the Lagos authorities to arrest those culpable in the structural failure and ensure that they are prosecuted if found wanting.
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