By George Okojie
Scores of people escaped death by the whiskers on Thursday in Lagos State when a two storey building under construction collapsed on 21 Makinde Street, in Alausa area of the state with some of the construction workers sustaining injuries.
Our correspondent learnt that the building located very close to Alausa Central Mosque collapsed 2.55pm on yesterday, causing confusion in the area as people scampered for safety.
Confirming the incident, the General Manager LASEMA Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu said the agency received a distressed call at the Lagos State Command and Control Centre concerning the partially collapsed building, prompting the activation of the agency’s Emergency Response Team to the incident scene.
Tiamiyu said, “Investigation at the incident scene revealed that the building is a 2- storey building under construction and the building was said to have partially collapsed while under construction. Physical assessment revealed that the building collapsed from the base tilting sideways as result of structural defect.
“The Agency’s Emergency Response team in concert with LASBCA,RRS, Nigeria Police, Alausa Divisional Office, and Area F,Lagos State Fire Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps all mobilized to the incident scene.”
According to him, occupants of adjoining building around the partially collapsed building were safely evacuated, while the vicinity of the partially collapsed building was cordoned off to prevent any form of movement around the collapsed site for safety purpose.
“No life was lost, but a male adult who was working in the collapsed building sustained injury and was treated immediately.
“After a full assessment by combined emergency response team was carried with a view to safely recovering the collapsed building site.”
The LASEMA boss said proper investigation would be conducted on the incident, adding that the partially collapsed building will be totally brought down by controlled demolition to ensure utmost safety of lives and properties.
He urged 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 such tragic incidents.