LAGOS/By Alaba Ajibade – The governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode has blamed the landlord of the collapsed building in Lagos Island in which 10 persons died, accusing him of resisting government demolition plan.
Mr. Ambode, who visited the scene of the three-storey collapsed building on Mersey Street, in Ita-Faji, Lagos, said the building was part of others marked for demolition but the landlords resisted the plan.
He expressed sadness over the incident, stressing that the marked building for demolition would be pulled down.
He said the collapsed building was a residential house, adding that the affected school operating within the premises was doing so illegally.
The Governor promised that the state government would take care of the hospital bills of those injured in the incident.
The Governor said the state would investigate the building collapse, while ensuring that those marked were pulled down so as to save lives.
He assured that integrity test would also be carried out on other buildings in the area.
“As I speak, the Deputy Governor is now at the General Hospital, Marina, to see all the victims. The state government will take care of the hospital bills. I commiserate with families that lost their dear ones in the building.
“I learnt about 25 persons had been rescued. I appeal to the residents to allow the rescue operators to carry out their work so that more lives can be rescued,” Mr. Ambode pleaded.
The General Manager of LASEMA, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, told NAN that many had been rescued, while some deaths recorded.
No fewer than 15 pupils were trapped under the rubble.
