Oniru Building Collapse: ‘Developer Chased Us Away’ — Lagos Official Suggests Owner Powerful
The collapse of the building in Oniru once more highlights the Lagos government’s apparent negligence in upholding the regulations governing construction.
On Oba Idowu Oniru Street, close to Palace Road in Oniru, the seven-story building fell early on Sunday.
Emergency personnel have already found two bodies and sent them to the morgue; their hunt for further bodies and potential survivors is ongoing.
Idris Salako, commissioner for physical planning, spoke at the site and described how the developer repeatedly repelled state officials.
The property had been sealed three times, according to Salako, but the owner ignored the warnings and continued working.
“We have a developer that is hostile and who contravenes the law of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning, 2019, as amended”, he said.
The commissioner confirmed he did not get the necessary planning permit and the prerequisite authorization before the start of construction.
“Several times, the officers of the Lagos State Building Control Agency visited this site and the attitude of the contractor has been that of hostility,” he said.
Salako added that the owner has been using his personal security to stop them from carrying performing their job.
“The developer has been dropping names any time our officers visit the place; we have sealed the site three times and he kept breaking the seal,” he added.
