2nd November, 2021
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) Gbolahan Oki.
Oki was suspended over the 21-story building that collapsed in Ikoyi on Monday.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso confirmed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He said Governor Sanwo-Olu vowed to find out what went wrong and punish those indicted.
The governor also set up an independent panel to probe the collapse of the building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi.
Omotoso said members of the panel will be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), and other professional bodies.
“It will independently investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence. The investigation is not part of the internal probe already being conducted by the government,” he added.
Omotosho also said more equipment and personnel have been deployed to the site to save more lives.
He said: “Nine persons – all men – have been pulled out of the rubble alive. They have been taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, 14 others were brought out dead – as at 2 pm.
“Mr. Sanwo-Olu thanks all first responders and those who have joined the rescue efforts, including construction giants Julius Berger, Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“A help desk is to be set up at the site for people seeking information about their relations who may have been involved in the incident.
“The media are hereby notified that the government will be releasing information whenever the need arises to avoid any sensational reporting of the unfortunate incident.”