The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the immediate demolition of all structurally distressed buildings around the site of the collapsed three-storey building at Alakija on the Badagry Expressway, while directing that the owner of the collapsed structure be prosecuted.
The governor issued the directive on Friday during an inspection of the scene, where he was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso.
The building collapsed on Thursday, trapping several occupants beneath the rubble.
Omotoso disclosed that emergency responders rescued 27 persons alive, while nine others were confirmed dead after an overnight search-and-rescue operation.
He said personnel of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, the Command and Control Centre, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and other emergency agencies remained at the scene until rescue operations were concluded.
Expressing the governor’s condolences to the bereaved families, Omotoso said the tragedy could have been avoided if previous government safety directives had been obeyed.
According to him, the collapsed building had earlier been identified as structurally distressed and officially marked for evacuation, but occupants allegedly ignored the directive.
“This should not have happened if people had obeyed the law instead of prioritising livelihoods over lives. The collapsed building had been marked as structurally distressed, and occupants were directed to vacate the premises, but the warning was ignored,” he said.
The commissioner announced that every other building previously identified as unsafe within the area would be demolished to avert another disaster.
He also warned that the owner of the collapsed building, as well as anyone found to have violated building regulations or obstructed enforcement efforts, would face prosecution under the laws of Lagos State.
“Owners of the collapsed and other distressed buildings will be prosecuted for culpability in the incident in accordance with the laws of Lagos State,” Omotoso said.
He further condemned the construction of buildings beneath high-tension electricity lines, describing the practice as dangerous and a blatant violation of planning regulations.
“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 that,” he added.
Omotoso said investigations had commenced to determine the immediate cause of the collapse, while survivors were receiving treatment at various hospitals across the state.
He urged residents occupying buildings around the collapse site to relocate immediately and comply with safety directives issued by government agencies.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, commended emergency workers and security personnel for their swift response, describing their efforts in rescuing trapped victims as commendable.
The inspection was also attended by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Gbenga Oyerinde, who praised first responders for their commitment throughout the rescue operation.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over recurring building collapses in Lagos, with experts repeatedly calling for stricter enforcement of building regulations and greater compliance with safety standards.
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