Two-storey building under construction collapses in Lagos

Just when the nation is yet to recover from last Saturday’s collapse of the Reigners Bible Church building in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, another building yesterday partially collapsed in Lagos State.

The quick intervention of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) yesterday averted a disaster. The agency had received a distressed call at the Lagos State Command and Control Centre around 2:55p.m. concerning a partially collapsed building at 21, Makinde Street, Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the spokesman of the agency, Kehinde Adebayo, “investigation at the scene of the incident revealed that the building is a two-storey building under construction. Physical assessment revealed that the building collapsed from the base tilting sideways as a result of structural defect.

“Occupant of adjoining buildings around the partially collapsed building were safely evacuated, while the vicinity of the building was cordoned off to prevent any form of movement around the collapsed site for safety purpose. No life lost, but a male adult, who was working in the collapsed building sustained injury and is being treated,” he said.

The General Manager of LASEMA, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, said proper investigation would be conducted on the incident while the collapsed building would be recovered by controlled demolition so as to ensure utmost safety of lives and properties.

“We will carry out a full assessment by combined emergency response team with a view to safely recovering the collapsed building site. However, I will advise developers of structures in the state to ensure they abide by the building codes and regulations of the state, as well as employ the services of certified engineers for building construction to avoid incidents like this.”

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged churches across the country to desist from holding services in uncompleted buildings following the tragedy that occurred at the Reigners Bible Church in Uyo.

CAN also called for sanctions to be meted out to those, who are responsible for the construction of buildings with substandard materials across the country, which has been partly adduced as the reasons for the church collapse.