By Promise Eze
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended all building developments on Banana Island in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu who gave the suspension on Thursday said it was subject to a comprehensive audit by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
This was made known in a statement issued by the Commissioner, Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso.
The audit will determine how many buildings were being constructed without approval and if all approved buildings were being built in line with the limits provided.
Omotoso said the exercise would be extended to other estates and gated communities in the state.
He confirmed that following Sanwo-Olu’s directive, the government had launched a probe of the collapse, adding that all persons found culpable would be prosecuted.
Omotoso said: “Nobody died in the incident, which occurred on Wednesday – as of the time of this report. 25 persons were rescued from the site, which Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) scanned with a high-precision 3-D Laser Imagery System for life, and found no evidence of anyone trapped in the rubble. A roll call has also been done by the site supervisors, with everyone accounted for.
“LASEMA has continued with the excavation of the site, using the architectural designs. The site has been divided into quadrants for a painstaking search and rescue operation.
“Presently, quadrants 2 and 3 have been levelled to ground zero, with the search operation completed. Quadrants 1 and 4 are ongoing.”
He stated that the Physical Planning and Urban Development Commissioner, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, and Special Duties Special Adviser Mobolaji Ogunlende were co-ordinating the operations.
Omotoso explained that of the 25 persons rescued by LASEMA, 16 with moderate injuries were admitted at General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island and Police Hospital Falomo for treatment and care.
