The Lagos State government has announced that it has sealed the collapsed building on Banana Island for not getting approval to commence construction.
This comes as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered a probe into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the high-rise building in the Ikoyi area.
Gbenga Omotoso, information and strategy commissioner in a statement on Thursday night said Sanwo-Olu had directed the relevant agency to investigate the collapse.
He added that ongoing building “developments on Banana Island be placed on hold, subject to a comprehensive audit by the officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency” to determine the number of buildings being constructed without state approval.
Omotoso added that the state government would be responsible for “the emergency treatment and care, including the medical bills of the patients on admission”.
According to him, the state will also provide post-trauma counselling support and care for all victims through the Lagos MiND programme.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 25 persons have been rescued from the rubble of a seven-storey building in Banana Island by the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), with 16 of the survivors, admitted to different hospitals.
The seven-storey building at Banana Island, Ikoyi, which was under construction, collapsed on Wednesday but no life was lost to the incident.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred during concrete casting when one of the concrete mixer trucks rammed into some load-bearing columns of the building, causing a loud bang and leading to the collapse.
He added that 25 people were rescued from the scene of the collapse, with 16 of the victims admitted with injuries at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island and Police Hospital, Falomo for treatment and care.
The statement read in part, “25 people were rescued from the site, which Lagos State Emergency Management Agency scanned with a high-precision 3-D Laser Imagery System for life, and found no evidence of anyone trapped in the rubble. A roll call has also been done by the site supervisors, with everyone accounted for.
“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 the Lagos State Ambulance Services.
“Of the 16 persons on admission, 11 were taken to Police Hospital Falomo. Eight of the 11 persons have been treated and discharged. 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.”