A 21-storey building under construction has collapsed in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, trapping about 100 workers.
The incident was at about 14:45 WAT, November 1, 2021.
By 18:00 WAT, three persons in the building – Number 20 Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos – were confirmed dead.
Hakeem Odumosu, Lagos State Police commissioner, confirmed the deaths.
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, commenced rescue operations shortly after and rescued 15 persons from the rubble.
President Muhammadu Buhari said he “commiserates with families who have lost loved ones” and encouraged NEMA to step-up rescue efforts.
The death toll rose to six the following day and 45, the day after.
It is said that the approved plan, DCB/DO/2442, was for 15 storeys but, the owner went on to build 21 floors.
The Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers said it suspects variations on the original design were to blame as the building was initially designed for six floors, later to 12 floors, then 15 floors, before going on to 21 floors.
There was no daily record of people on site, which Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, called an irregularity, when he visited the site.
As a result, the total number of persons still trapped, was unknown.
The construction was by “4 Score Homes” while the owner is “Fourscore Heights Limited.”
The Structural Engineers are “Beyond Designs” and the Architect is “Voltron Design Studio” while “M&E Consultants” are the consultants in charge of construction.
Olufemi Osibona, the Managing Director of 4Score Homes, was among the trapped persons.
He was pulled out dead on 2 November, 2021.
Lagos State government declared three days of mourning starting from 5 November, 2021 and is investigating the collapse.
The final report of the investigation will be ready in one month and will be made public.
photo credit: lasema
