Ikoyi Building Collapse: PHD Center Calls For Suspension Commissioner, Directors, Others

• A concerned group PHD Center has called for suspension of commissioner, Directors and others over Ikoyi Building collapse

EKO HOT BLOG reports that The PeaceBuilding and Human Development (PHD) Center has called for the suspension of the Lagos State Commissioner of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako; the Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and Lagos Material Testing and the Safety.

This is following the collapse of the 21-storey building that collapsed on Monday on Gerrard Road, in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State where No fewer than 22 people have been confirmed dead.

The building crumbled around 2pm when workers were on the site.

This online media platform reported that 10 people were feared dead when the incident happened, as many others were still trapped in the rubble, including the Managing Director, Fourscore Heights Limited, Mr Femi Osibona, who owned the building.

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This call was made in a letter addressed to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and obtained by EKO HOT BLOG.

The letter signed by the Secretary/Executive Director, Ayo Olowoyeye reads in part, “Facts had it that the Hon. Commissioner and the PS were at some point had been on this failed project which was sealed a few months ago and to have regained access to the site to reach such level (21 floors) should never be an oversight on the part of these Senior Govt., Officers/ Political Appointees. The public’s curiosity as per who gave the green light to get back to work needs urgent clarifications. Was the needful done aside seeing the site as a source of revenue generation or simply because it is owned by highly profiled Lagosians/Nigerians?

“It is worthy of note that the Hon. Commissioner and his Monitoring Unit has always been on these ‘high brows’ areas for enforcements etc (as publicized to the public on regular intervals), especially, Banana Island, Parkview, Osborne Foreshore, Gerald Way, Alfred Rewane, Temple Road, Aromire, Thompson Avenue, Olumegbon Rd, Dagenham Rummens, Mekunwen, Bourdillon etc, therefore, to have this disaster under their watch does not add up in reality. There are open questions that must be answered by the concerned Sir.

“Not to spare the culprits who may be involved or responsible for the avoidable sad incident and the probe committee’s report be duly made to the public in no distant time as soon as it is ready.

“The truth is not far from the public, even if they are going to be covered. We, therefore, hope that the committee will discharge its duties with utmost sincerity as service to the people to further strengthen the trust for this government.”

He, however, commiserated with the Governor, families of the deceased and Lagosians over the incident.

He said: “We commiserate with the Governor, the families of the deceased and the good people of Lagos State on the avoidable loss of lives of our fellow citizens in the collapsed 21 storeys ongoing project in Gerrard, Ikoyi, Lagos which sadly occurred on 1st November 2021. It was indeed a sad day.

“However, we are happy to note that the government has since “announced to set up a fact-finding committee on the unfortunate incident” which excludes the Head and Directors of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development led by Dr. Idris Salako, the Hon. Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Lagos State.

“Hoping that this committee will not do cover-up in any form, regardless of the stakeholders that may own or might have subscribed to this failed project, we, therefore, implore Mr Governor to once again reassure the people of Lagos State and Nigerians the confidence reposed in him to also consider the following among many other things.”

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