Lagos directs demolition of structure beside Mushin collapsed building

The Lagos government has directed the demolition of the structure beside the three-storey building that collapsed in the Mushin area of the state.

TheCable had reported that a three-storey building at Sonuga street in Mushin collapsed on Friday.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), two persons have so far been rescued from the collapsed building.

Mukaila Sanusi, spokesperson of the Lagos state ministry of physical planning and urban development, in a statement, said the ministry is currently investigating the cause of the collapse.

“On Friday, the commissioner for physical planning and urban development, Engr. Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, visited the site of the four-floor building, which is said to be about 40 years old,” the statement reads.

“The commissioner directed that the adjoining building be pulled down immediately to forestall further collapse and for safety reasons.

“Efforts are on to rescue those who might have been trapped in the rubble.

“The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory have been directed to unravel the cause of the collapse.

“The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency is leading the rescue operations.”

The latest incident comes amid a recurring trend of building collapse in Lagos.

Amid the development, Idris Salako, former Lagos commissioner for physical planning and urban development, resigned.

Meanwhile, on September 4, a seven-storey uncompleted building collapsed at Oba Idowu Oniru street in the Lekki area of Lagos, and six persons were reported dead.

In May, the collapse of a three-storey building in the Ebute-Meta axis of state claimed eight lives.

In February, a three-storey building collapsed in the Onike area of Yaba, resulting in several casualties.

On November 1, 2021, a 21-storey building being developed by Fourscore Homes, collapsed in the Ikoyi axis of the state.