Ikoyi collapsed building: Lagos State denies plan to demolish two high-rise buildings

By Uthman Salami

The Lagos State Government has debunk any insidious plans to demolish two high-rise buildings which are situated at the site of the collapsed building that caved in days ago, and claiming many lives in the process.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho made this known via a statement made available to Nigerian NewsDirect.

While debunking the insidious insinuation, the Commissioner said, “Contrary to speculations, no directive has been given for the demolition of the two high-rise buildings standing at the site of the 21-storey collapsed building in Ikoyi, Lagos.”

He added that, “The Panel of Inquiry instituted into the collapse of the building has continued to sit and an integrity test on the two buildings is yet to be conducted on the two buildings. It is, therefore, wrong to assert or speculate that the buildings will be demolished.”

Omotoso added that, “The operation at the site of the collapsed building continues. Vehicular movement around the site has been smooth, following the  reopening of the road.

“Two more bodies were recovered from the site today. The recovery of the two bodies has brought to 45 the number of bodies retrieved from the site.

“The identification of bodies of the victims of the incident has continued at IDH, Yaba, Lagos Mainland. Thirty-two families have come forward to submit samples for DNA to identify bodies that they wish to claim. In cases where identification is clear and there are no arguments, the bodies will be released to the families.”

He said, “A committee to supervise the identification and release of the bodies has begun work. It comprises senior officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice.”