Ikoyi collapsed building: Death toll rises to 19

 

. 9 persons rescued

.Sanwo-Olu suspends LASBCA GM, Oki

.Govt to foot bill of rescued victims

.Three discharged from hospital

.Tinubu, George, Obaseki react

 

IBRAHIM QUADRI

 

Lagos State Government has promised to take full responsibility for the treatment and medical bills of rescued victims of the Ikoyi building collapse.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat disclosed this today during his visit to some of the rescued victims of the Ill-fated incident who are on admission at the General Hospital, Lagos.

Hamzat who spoke to press men after the visit explained that nine people, all male, have so far been rescued from the debris of the building adding that three of the rescued victims were treated and discharge on the spot while the remaining six are presently on admission receiving treatment at the Medical Emergency (LASEMS) unit of the General Hospital, Lagos.

 

While noting that the admitted victims are responding well to treatment and doing well, the deputy Governor noted that the injuries sustained by those presently on admission are minor injuries which are not life threatening

 

He however mentioned that some casualties of the collapsed building who were brought in to the hospital dead have been deposited at the morgue

 

He said: “So we have six people in here, all male, and thankfully they are doing well. The doctors have told us their state; they have minor injuries and nothing life threatening thankfully. They are being treated and of course as you know, the Lagos State Government is taking full responsibility for their treatment.

 

“We have their names and we will be getting in touch with their families. Nine people were rescued, six are here now, three people have gone home and as you know we have 10 dead bodies taken out of the place”.

 

Hamzat expressed deep sympathy with victims, assuring them of adequate care during the course of their treatment.

 

Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye who accompanied the Deputy Governor on the visit assured the rescued victims of quality and optimal health care service at the facility stressing that trained medical personnel are on ground to aid their recovery process.

 

The Deputy Governor was joined on his visit by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mrs. Abiola Kosegbe. The team was received by the Deputy Medical Director of the General Hospital Lagos, Dr. Abiola Mafe.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government is setting up an independent panel to probe the collapse of the 21-storey building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi.

Aside this, the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the immediate suspension of the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Gbolahan Oki indefinitely.

According to a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, 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 read  in part, “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.

 

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the government will surely find out what went wrong and punish those indicted.  The Governor, as a first step, has directed that the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Gbolahan Oki, an architect, be suspended from work immediately. The suspension is indefinite.

 

“More equipment and personnel have been deployed in the site to save more lives.

 

“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 2pm.

 

“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.”

 

Meanwhile as rescue operation continued at the site of collapsed building entered day two, the number of persons rescued alive have increased to nine while, 14 dead bodies have been evacuated so far.

 

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat who  was at the scene of the incident on Tuesday while, briefing journalists on update of the rescue operation around  12 noon, confirmed that two out of the nine survivors have been discharged.

 

Hamzat who spoke on behalf of the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated that the state government is hopeful that more people will be found alive, urging onlookers around the incident site to allow responders do their work effectively.

 

The Deputy-Governor dispelled the rumour that the initial approval for the building was 15 storeys, noting that what the government approved was actually twenty-one.

 

According to him, the construction site had earlier been sealed in July till November, to allow for structural adjustment by the developer, stating that there are procedures to be followed in demolishing a property for non-compliance

 

The Deputy-Governor also visited the Lagos Island General Hospital, to check on the survivors.

However, the former Lagos State governor and All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has backed Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu on the order for the probe of all that led to the collapse of the 21-storey building on Gerald Road, Ikoyi.

He said the government must get to the bottom of the ghastly occurrence, while adding that he sought “not to prejudge anything or anyone”.

“It is obvious and plain to us all that something went terribly wrong. If indeed intentional or reckless wrongdoing has been committed, severe and appropriate sanctions should find those who have been found to have shirked their fundamental responsibilities. The departed, their grieving families and the people of Lagos deserve no less and should perhaps demand even more.”

Asiwaju’s commiseration with the dead, sympathy for other victims of the incident and condemnation of the collapse is contained in a statement on Tuesday by his Media Office in Abuja.

The former Lagos governor said in the statement: “The collapse of a 21-storey building on Gerald Road in Ikoyi, Lagos is a sad and painful incident. Once more and all too often, we have suffered the loss of lives for no defensible reason. This tragedy should never have occurred.

“Workers at the site and, for that matter no one who is simply trying to work in order to care for their loved ones, should have their lives abbreviated in such a manner. No one should suffer what these people suffered. Nor should families have to hear such news and bear such a burden like this. As we pray that the souls of the deceased now rest in peace, human compassion requires us to do more. We must reach out to their families with both prayer and practical support and assistance during this terrible moment.

“I sympathise with those injured and I commend Lagos State Government for I know it will see to their immediate medical needs and provide whatever other assistance is required for them to survive the episode and return to a semblance of normalcy.

“The emergency responders are doing well and they require our support and encouragement for their task is hard and not without significant physical danger. We pray that others will be found alive and without significant injury. Search and rescue efforts must continue non-stop until they are able to bring out whoever is still trapped in the rubble.

“Some tragedies are unavoidable, but most are not. We need to understand what happened here so that we can work harder to prevent a reoccurrence. I endorse Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu’s order for an investigation into this tragedy. There are many questions to ask, and all those questions deserve full and public answers.

“We must get to the bottom of this ghastly occurrence. I seek not to prejudge anything or anyone, but it is obvious and plain to us all that something went terribly wrong. If indeed intentional or reckless wrongdoing has been committed, severe and appropriate sanctions should find those who have been found to have shirked their fundamental responsibilities. The departed, their grieving families and the people of Lagos deserve no less and should perhaps demand even more.

“As much as we are in collective pain and grief, we must also be clear and focused. Let us use this tragedy to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to end any malpractices and misconduct that might in any way contribute to such an incident.

“We must never become numb to the tragedies that befall others; we must work and strive to put an end to these frightening events and the brutal but avoidable deaths that go with them. Lagos is and must forever be a place of light and life where the best of human endeavour is our currency and our calling card.”

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