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Another three-storey building collapses in Lagos

By Odita Sunday and Tobi Awodipe
30 August 2017   |   4:23 am
Another three-storey building yesterday collapsed in Ojo area of Lagos State. There were, however, no casualties as residents have already deserted the building located at No. 21 Saka Okoro Street, Ilufe Road, Alaba International Market, Ojo.

• Man petitions Ambode over sealing of property by ministry
Another three-storey building yesterday collapsed in Ojo area of Lagos State. There were, however, no casualties as residents have already deserted the building located at No. 21 Saka Okoro Street, Ilufe Road, Alaba International Market, Ojo. It was gathered that the building caved in on Tuesday morning in a partial collapse.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu, said on arrival at the incident scene, a three-storey building consisting of eight blocks of flats collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday.

“Investigation conducted at the scene revealed that the building had showed some signs of being distressed. No life was lost and there were no injuries sustained,” he said.

He added that recovery operation was ongoing by LASEMA, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and other stakeholders to prevent any secondary incident of full or total collapse that might lead to unnecessary loss of lives.

However, government officials have begun full demolition of the building. An official of LASBCA who craved anonymity said occupants of the building had been served demolition notice for long and that they had vacated the house before it caved in on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, a Lagos resident, Mr. Olagbaiye Gbemiga, has petitioned the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, over alleged ‘unjust sealing of his property at No. 14, Adebiaye Street, Surulere, Lagos.

According to Olagbaiye in the letter, the property he duly paid for was allegedly resold to someone else who offered a higher price. Since he refused to return the original document, which had already been given to him, the original owner of the property had resorted to intimidating him, he alleged.

According to distraught Olagbaiye, “The property was purchased in November 2015. Within the same year, I discovered that the said property was resold to another person in December 2015 who paid a higher price. As a result, lawyers to the predecessors in title asked me to return the original title land documents of the property.

“I immediately contacted my lawyers and the matter was instituted at the High Court of Lagos State, Igbosere. Frustrated by this move and since they could not approach the Magistrate Court to eject the tenants, the other party stated through their agents that they will use any other method possible to eject the tenants at the property.

“Since August 2016, the Ministry of Physical Planning & Urban Development has been visiting the property to carry out routine inspections and serve notices. One of their observations was that the property was not strong enough for habitation. I engaged the services of a Civil Engineering Consultant to conduct a Stability and Fitness test on the property and handed the report to them.

“Surprisingly, on May 8, I saw two officers of the Ministry of Physical Planning & Urban Development along with a carpenter and 10 armed policemen, sealing the doors to the said property with the belongings of the tenants still inside the house. I shall be grateful if the property can be unsealed to allow the tenants access to the property.”

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