The Lagos State Government has arrested the developer of a three-storey building that collapsed at No. 16 Akanbi Crescent, Onike, Yaba.
It was learnt that the developer was picked up for breaking the government seal on the property and violating the stop-work order.
The state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, confirmed the arrest on Saturday.
He said that the incident occurred around 3.30 pm, noting that the building was under construction and at 3 floors, suspended slab before it collapsed.
Salako stated that preliminary findings indicated that the site had been sealed-off twice by the Lagos State Building Control Agency in 2021 for non-compliance with Building Regulations, after which the site was abandoned.
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However, the developer later broke Government Seal, sneaked into the site and re-commenced construction without official authorisation.
“The Developer in-charge of the site has since been arrested and handed over to the RRS Team, while rescue operation is ongoing,” the ministry said in a statement signed by Mukaila Sanusi, Deputy Director, Public Affairs.
A resident of the area who spoke with the media under condition of anonymity also confirmed that a section of the building collapsed last year, causing the state government to weigh in on the matter.
Before the latest incident, the building was said to have given signs with rubles throwing on Thursday and when one of the neighbours called the attention of the workers, they told him off that it was as a result of works going one.
It was gathered that a section of the building which is still under construction collapsed on another building beside it.
Three persons were confirmed dead and about four others including a security guard and construction workers were reportedly trapped under the ruins on Saturday.
An official of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) said at the scene that the agency had on two different occasions ordered the developer to stop work on the property.
“We had told them two times last year to stop work. I wonder why most Nigerians don’t listen to authority. Part of this building as we learnt then collapsed before and we told them to stop,” the official, who declined to give his name, said.
