…Govt arrests developer
THREE persons have been confirmed dead and about four others, including a security guard and construction workers, are reportedly trapped after a 3-storey building under construction on Akanbi Crescent, in the Yaba area of Lagos, collapsed.
It was learnt that a worker, identified only as Sunday, was rescued from the rubble.
The incident, which occurred around 3.30 pm, yesterday, came barely three months after a 21-storey building in Ikoyi, owned by the late Managing Director, Fourscore Heights Limited, Femi Osibona, collapsed, trapping over 50 persons.
More than 40 persons, including Osibona, his personal assistant, Onyinye Enekwe, and friend, Wale Bob-Oseni, were killed.
A preliminary report had blamed the Ikoyi incident on violation of the approved building plan initially designed as 8-storeys and poor quality of concrete materials.
Meanwhile, the State Government has arrested the developer of the latest collapsed building at No. 16 Akanbi Crescent, Onike, Yaba for breaking the government seal on the property and violating the stop-work order.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, in a statement titled, ‘Onike Building Collapse: LASG Rescues Survivor, Arrests Developer’, confirmed the arrest.
Salako stated that preliminary findings indicated that the site had been sealed-off twice by LABSCA in 2021 for non-compliance with Building Regulations after which the site was abandoned.
“However, the developer later broke Government Seal, sneaked into the site and re-commenced construction without official authorisation.
“The Developer in charge of the site has since been arrested and handed over to the RRS Team, while rescue operation is ongoing,” the statement said.
