- Lagos State says ignoring safety warnings caused the Alakija building collapse
- Officials confirmed the structure was previously marked unsafe and sealed
- The government has ordered demolition of nearby distressed buildings and promised prosecutions
The Lagos State Government has blamed the frequent building collapses in the state on widespread disregard for safety rules and violations of government directives on unsafe structures.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made this known on Friday during an interview on Arise Television, while speaking on the collapse of a multi-storey building in the Alakija area of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area.
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He said the collapsed structure had earlier been marked as distressed and sealed by authorities, but some occupants reportedly returned to the building despite official warnings before it eventually gave way.
According to him, enforcement agencies had already declared the property unsafe, but non-compliance by residents contributed to the tragedy.
Omotoso explained that many such incidents occur because people prioritize business activities and income over safety regulations, despite repeated government warnings.
He stressed that government agencies routinely identify and seal unsafe buildings, but some property owners and occupants often violate the restrictions before demolition can be carried out.
The commissioner maintained that Lagos State has strong enforcement systems in place, adding that distressed structures are regularly marked and removed to prevent loss of lives.
He also revealed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had ordered the demolition of other structurally defective buildings around the crash site to avoid further incidents.
Omotoso warned that owners of illegal or unsafe buildings would face legal action, while any government officials found culpable would also be sanctioned.
He extended the government’s condolences to families affected by the incident.
Authorities confirmed that nine people died in the collapse, while 26 others were rescued from the rubble.
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