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Lagos Building With Over 800 Rooms Collapses

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Two Individuals Battling for Life After Building Collapse in Ketu, Lagos

A tragic incident unfolded in the Ketu area of Lagos as a school-turned-residential building partially collapsed on Sunday. At present, two individuals are fighting for their lives in a private hospital following this distressing event. The affected building, known as Agboye Estate, is situated on Oduntan Street in Ketu and houses over 800 rooms with hundreds of residents.

The initial collapse of the building occurred on Saturday afternoon, coinciding with heavy rainfall that affected various parts of Lagos. While residents were still attempting to salvage their belongings and recover from the initial collapse on Sunday afternoon, the building crumbled once again. This secondary collapse also led to the destruction of another structure within the compound before the entire building succumbed.

The incident triggered panic in the area, compelling hundreds of families and individuals residing in the building to evacuate the premises urgently. The situation is a stark reminder of the importance of stringent building maintenance, safety checks, and adherence to construction standards to prevent such tragic events and ensure the safety of occupants.

During a visit to the affected building on Sunday evening, dozens of residents were seen moving their belongings in different directions as officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency cordoned off the premises.

The affected compound housing several defective buildings has been marked for demolition by Lagos officials.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, said at press time that there was no record of death.

According to Oke-Osanyitolu, “Upon the arrival of the agency’s responders at the incident scene, a 2-storey building and a 4-storey building situated beside each other were found to have collapsed at the aforementioned address.

“Investigation conducted by the LRT revealed that the collapse could be attributed to aging and poor maintenance on the part of the owner.

The collapse of the building in Ketu, Lagos, was reportedly caused by the caving-in of the staircase. A male adult fell from the topmost floor as a result of the collapse, and he has been taken to the hospital for treatment. Other residents sustained minor injuries in the incident.

In response to the situation, a combined team of various agencies, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Rapid Response Team (RRS), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), and Lagos Neighborhood and Security Corps (LNSC), is supervising the evacuation of residents from the building. The affected building will be demolished as it has failed a structural integrity test, posing a threat to public safety and neighboring buildings. This action underscores the importance of proactive measures to prevent further incidents and protect the community.

As of the time of the report, the response team and various agencies, including LASEMA, RRS, LABSCA, and LNSC, remained at the incident scene, actively working together to ensure the complete evacuation of occupants and the security of lives and property.

It is noted that the landlord of Agboye Estate has gone into hiding in the wake of Sunday’s tragic incident, which highlights the serious consequences and responsibilities associated with building maintenance and safety in densely populated urban areas like Lagos.

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Lagos schedules meeting with owners of distressed buildings.

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The Lagos State Government has said it would soon arrange a meeting with developers/owners of distressed buildings on how best to address the redesign and remodelling of such structures by November.

This was disclosed recently by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, at a function in Alahusa, Lagos.

Olumide said the prevalence of distressed buildings in different parts of the state was worrisome and needed the urgent attention of all stakeholders.

He said, “The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development as mandated by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019, as amended, was willing to extend its responsibility for approving the remodelling of existing buildings to provide technical assistance to developers and owners of distressed buildings, especially on the design and remodelling of such buildings.

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FG threatens contractors over Enugu-Onitsha road delay

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The Federal Government has instructed the contractors responsible for the 107km Enugu-Onitsha road dualization to expedite the project.

This directive was given by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during a meeting with MTN, the Enugu State Government, and the contractors, RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd, on Friday.

According to a statement released on Friday, the minister said he is disappointed over the slow pace of work on the project, he said, “Let me express my disappointment over the slow pace of work on that project. It is one of the worst roads in this country.

“Everywhere we have diversion; diverting from the one that RCC and Nigercat had completed, the contractors are not kind enough to even put stone based on the diversion points.”

He added, “So, by the reason of the launching of our Operation Free our Roads, it is now a violation of the policy on the side of the controllers and directors of the Federal Ministry of Works where we have vehicles falling on any project that is ongoing or where there are potholes on our roads.”

He also blamed the sufferings of road users on the lack of commitment and insensitivity of the contractors.

“The public must know that the President’s intention is not for them to suffer while trying to fix the roads, and it is their right to insist that contractors should fix the roads that they are engaged on,” he said.

The Minister commended the Enugu state government for their resolve to fund the construction of a 20 KM section of the road and expressed hope that MTN would execute the second phase of the project.

He noted, “Why the Enugu State government is intervening is because of the slow pace of work by the contractors and because of funding issues. The essence of tax credit is for funds to be made available. And so, I don’t see RCC going to keep their promise to finish this project in 6 months.

“My advice to MTN is to look for another contractor within that axis if they want to get the job done. Division of labour is even the best. While they are doing the road, and if Nigercat is doing a good job, you can give them greater scope to do if you want to finish that job.”

He warned contractors that the Federal Government would not accept phased handovers of projects and has phased out Variation of Price in contract administration.

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Ekiti state government mediates land dispute between traditional ruler and family in Epe-Ekiti

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The Ekiti State government has intervened to resolve a longstanding land dispute between the Elepe of Epe-Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adesoye, and the Atolagbe family. The government cautioned against the misuse of modernization as an excuse to disregard traditional customs.

In line with the community’s traditions, the government has ordered the release of resources, including palm trees at Oko Oba Farmland, to Oba Adesoye for his administration. This decision ensures the continued adherence to age-old practices.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, announced the resolution in Ado-Ekiti. The decision was made after considering the Elepe’s claim to Oko Oba Farmland based on historical evidence.

Mrs. Afuye acknowledged the Elepe’s right to be the custodian of Oko Oba Farmland, citing longstanding traditions that support his claim. The decision reflects the importance of respecting historical practices and ensuring their preservation.

The deputy governor, however, told the monarch in clear terms that other princes and princesses from all the three ruling houses should be allowed to farm on the land without payment of royalty.

Mrs Afuye appealed to the community to comply with the government’s position to restore unity, peace and orderliness to the beleaguered community.

Oba Adesoye expressed gratitude for the government’s decision and pledged to foster peace and unity between the throne and the community, aiming to accelerate Epe’s development.

Representing the Atolagbe family, Dr. Yemi Agbeleoba acknowledged their willingness to cede Oko Oba Farmland to the monarch. However, he emphasized the need for all three ruling houses to participate for a lasting and traditional solution.

Agbeleoba expressed appreciation for the government’s directive, believing it will contribute to resolving the long-standing conflict.

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