We Warned The Builders But They Broke Our Warning Seal To Continue, More Collapses Imminent- LASBCA

General Manager of LABSCA, Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun Odunayo inspecting a concrete slab from the collapsed building

Prior to the fatal collapse of a two-story building at Surulere area in Lagos State today the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) says it had warned the builders to desist and marked the structure unsafe.

The agency says the warning followed  its finding upon visits and inspection of the workmen, papers and materials used at the site.

Speaking on the site of the incidence this afternoon, General Manager of LABSCA, Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun Odunayo told reporters that the collapsed structure was one of those marked as unstable in the area.

In addition, she said the agency warned the builders to desist about two months ago when her crew visited  the area to inspect structures and orientate the residents about vulnerability of their buildings.

"We sealed it and asked them to stop building because of the inferior materials they used and the personnel constructing it.

However, afterwards, they broke our warning seal and what they did was to build on weekends, believing our agency would not find out on those days ,"  Mrs. Abimbola said.

Established in Lagos state last year, the LABSCA , Mrs. Abimbola said, has marked several buildings throughout the State with warnings that the owners should carry out certain tests and vacate premises until reconstructed."

The duration we give them to vacate and rebuild depends upon the seriousness of the structures' weakness ," she said. She warned that other buildings throughout the area have also been marked, and more collapses are impending.

"We were on the Island last week as well, and we marked some buildings we inspected to be vulnerable ,"  she alerted, warning that more building collapses are imminent in the State.  She says LASBCA is putting up road shows to enlighten residents about the vulnerability of their structures. The LASBCA boss said part of the criteria for sealing buildings in the State include lack of building approval, building beyond approved limit, expertise of construction workmen and quality of materials among others. Search and rescue and rescue efforts by men of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), fire service and other emergency rescue teams are still drilling for more victims who may still be trapped by the collapsed building.

So far,   three persons have been rescued, and four other dead bodies bodies have been recovered as efforts are still in full gear to rescue more people believed to trapped in the building.