How Developer’s Negligence Led To The Collapse Of 21-Storey Building In Ikoyi

The unfortunate building collapse that happened in Lagos state today could have been averted if only the builders were considerate enough to look into safety than achieving the goal of erecting one of the tallest structure in Lagos state.

Trixx NG reports that the developer, Femi Awobona had received warnings against proceeding with this massive building but never listened. We also report that at some point, the lagos state government sealed off the building in order to avert another calamity but it was unfortunately unsealed and construction continued ever since.

As if that isn’t enough, we were told that the structural engineer withdrew his services some days ago because the developer wasn’t willing to follow due process regarding the building.

Although, Mr Femi Awobona and some of his aides were trapped in the building but the rescue operators are yet to ascertain the number of victims in this unfortunate incident.

According to an eyewitness, few minutes before the building collapsed, one side of the pillars broke and made a loud noise as the whole building came down.

At the time, a source was quoted as saying that the State Government took the action to seal the building in order to ensure that what happened with Lekki Gardens Estate when its on-going six-storey building collapsed on March 8, 2016 would not be witnessed again in the state.

The source said:

“It is unheard of that the owners of the Ikoyi project in question would embark on such a capital intensive project without obtaining required approvals for a project as massive as that.

“Gone are the days of negligence on the part of the government when people flout the law. Sealing up the project is law taking its due course.

“The owners of this project have shown themselves to be defiant and obstinate, in that the state ministry of Land and Physical Planning had been calling on them, without (them) paying attention to what the ministry had been calling their attention to.

“It does not benefit the state to stop economically viable projects like the project on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi, but the responsibility falls on the government that all rules and regulations guiding such buildings are strictly adhered to.

“What the government has done is to halt further construction with a view to assessing and evaluating the extent to which the builders had adhered to the building code. The state will take it up from there.

“The government will not fold its arm and watch people behave recklessly without order and accountability. We are talking about people’s lives here. The state will no longer tolerate such attitude from anybody no matter how highly placed they may be.”