Kunle Awosiyan
Many people have been trapped under the rubble as a Eight-storey building collapsed Wednesday evening on First Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that those trapped included workers and artisans who were working in the uncompleted building.
It was also gathered that some food vendors were in the building when it caved in and collapsed.
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One Mr. Wale Olayanju who stayed around the place said that the building gave way at about 5pm when work was still going on there.
He said that Lagos State government officials had once visited the place to stop work due to structural defects but the order was later reversed and work was allowed to continue.
According to him, the residents association had called the appropriate authorities to come to the rescue of the trapped persons.
Our correspondent however spoke to the Public Relation Officer of the National Emergency Management Authority, Mr. ibrahim Falinloye who confirmed the incident.
He said that necessary personnel had been mobilised to the place for onward rescue operation.
Reacting Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu PERMANENT SECRETARY, LAGOS STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (LASEMA), said that the agency activated its response plan and upon arrival at the scene of the incident, discovered that a seven storey building under construction had collapsed.
“Inspection revealed that the building was damaged by a cement mixer truck, which drove into the building columns
A head count carried out by the CSO Anthony Onah of the construction site has an adult male unaccounted for. His where about is unknown Operation ongoing- Agency’s excavator, forklift are on site while crane is enroute
Updates to follow,” he said.
