Lagos Rain: One Person Injured as Storey Buildings Collapse in Lagos

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Lagos State government has said it would pull down two buildings that crumbled at 47/49 Oduntan Street, Kosofe, following the heavy rainfall on Saturday.

The structures affected include a two-storey building and a four-storey building with one casualty that has been hospitalised.

The Director General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the building failed a structural integrity test confirmed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) at the scene.

Hence, he insisted that it threatens the public and adjoining buildings, stressing:. “The building will be pulled down.”

Oke-Osanyintolu narrated that their responders confirmed the buildings beside each other had caved in when they arrived.

“Investigation conducted by the LRT revealed that the collapse could be attributed to aging and poor maintenance on the owner’s part,” he argued.

According to the DG, further investigation revealed that the staircase of the building crumbled.

A male adult reportedly fell from the topmost to the ground floor but is receiving medical attention.

“Residents of the building have been asked to vacate the building under the supervision of LASEMA, RRS, LABSCA, and LNSC to avert further secondary incidents,” he said.

The agency’s response team, including paramedics, among other agencies, were on ground to salvage the situation.