Banana Island Building collapse: Sanwo-Olu orders probe as LASEMA rescues 25 from site

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered a probe into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of a high-rise building in the Ikoyi area of the state.

The PUNCH reports that the seven-storey building at Banana Island, Ikoyi, which was under construction, collapsed on Wednesday but no life was lost to the incident.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred during concrete casting when one of the concrete mixer trucks rammed into some load-bearing columns of the building, causing a loud bang and leading to the collapse.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in a statement on Thursday night, said Sanwo-Olu had directed the relevant agency to investigate the collapse.

He added that 25 people were rescued from the scene of the collapse, with 16 of the victims admitted with injuries at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island and Police Hospital, Falomo for treatment and care.

The statement read in part, “25 people were rescued from the site, which Lagos State Emergency Management Agency scanned with a high-precision 3-D Laser Imagery System for life, and found no evidence of anyone trapped in the rubble. A roll call has also been done by the site supervisors, with everyone accounted for.

“Of the 25 persons rescued by LASEMA, 16 with moderate injuries were admitted at General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island and Police Hospital Falomo for treatment and care. Nine others with minor injuries, such as bruises, were treated and discharged at the site by the Lagos State Ambulance Services.

“Of the 16 persons on admission, 11 were taken to Police Hospital Falomo. Eight of the 11 persons have been treated and discharged. Some are required to come for daily follow-up and management. Three with various injuries, including blunt traumatic chest injury, knee injuries, deep lacerations and others, are on admission.

“At the General Hospital Odan, Lagos Island, there are five patients with more serious injuries.”

The state government also announced it had sealed the building for not getting approval to commence construction, adding that ongoing building “developments on Banana Island be placed on hold, subject to a comprehensive audit by the officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency” to determine the number of buildings being constructed without state approval.

Omotoso added that the state government would be responsible for “the emergency treatment and care, including the medical bills of the patients on admission,” adding that the state would also provide post-trauma counselling support and care for all victims through the Lagos MiND programme.