Three-storey building collapses in Apapa, Lagos

On Sunday, a three-story structure that was under construction in the Apapa neighbourhood of Lagos State fell.

An alleged partial collapse of the building at 45 Ladipo Oluwo Street, GRA Apapa, was attributed to a thunderstorm.

According to The Nation, Lagos State saw storms and heavy rain on Sunday afternoon, which also caused flash floods.

This incident happened just a few days after a seven-story structure under construction on Banana Island collapsed, killing one person and injuring several others.

Despite the fact that there were no reported injuries as a result of the occurrence, the state administration has sealed the property due to alleged violations of the provisional approval that was given to it.

The developers violated the government's seal, which required a halt to construction on the site, according to a statement made by Mukaila Sanusi, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, on Sunday evening.

Sanusi said that the property was sealed because a developer built three levels despite only receiving provisional approval for two.

He claimed that preliminary investigations showed LABSCA officials had given a number of infraction warnings, stop work orders, and seal up orders, all of which the developer disregarded and continued to build despite having no recourse to the authorities.

“There has been no report of any casualty, while the site has been cordoned off and taken over by LASBCA.

“This particular incident, like similar others, reinforces governments repeated calls for responsible behaviour on the part of all stakeholders in the built environment.

“Lagos State Government has immediately activated inquiries into the collapse to unravel the minute details and guide appropriate actions.

A preliminary assessment from the state's Physical Planning Ministry, which was signed by architect Adeniyi Adebiyi, also revealed that the frontal portion of the building's second level collapsed in the early hours of Sunday.

“The property has been served the CN, STW & Seal Up Notices accordingly and they observed that the ongoing construction had a Provisional Development Permit of a two-floor structure.

“No authorisation and building was not staged by LASBCA. Construction is at third-floor roof level with block work completed.”

Asimiyu Tiamiyu, a volunteer with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the Ajeromi Ifelodun LCDA, reported being among the first on the scene and confirming there were no casualties.

He said that the Sallah holiday caused work on the site to be suspended, which caused all the artisans to be gone at the time of the collapse.

Tiamiyu said, “The state government must beam a searchlight on the recurring incident of collapsed buildings which had claimed many lives and property worth billions of naira destroyed."

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