Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended Gbolahan Oki, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency.
This came as the governor vowed to investigate facts behind the building collapse and punish those indicted in the collapsed Ikoyi structure which was under construction.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos, Gbenga Omotoso, indicated that the state government would set up an independent panel to probe facts behind the collapsed building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi.
It stated that members of the panel would be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects, the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, the Nigeria Society of Engineers and other professional bodies.
“It will independently investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence. The investigation is not part of the internal probe already being conducted by the government,” it read.
The statement added that more equipment and personnel had been deployed to the site to save more lives.
“Nine persons – all men – have been pulled out of the rubble alive. They have been taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, 14 others were brought out dead as at 2pm.
“Mr. Sanwo-Olu thanks all first responders and those who have joined the rescue efforts, including construction giants, Julius Berger, Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, and the National Emergency Management Agency.
“A help desk is to be set up at the site for people seeking information about their relations who may have been involved in the incident.
“The media are hereby notified that the government will be releasing information whenever the need arises to avoid any sensational reporting of the unfortunate incident.”
The government, it stressed, would embark on further foundation and borehole acidic level tests to ascertain the impact on the collapsed building.
The tests, particularly the borehole acidic level, were said to be important for the entire Gerrard Road and adjoining areas.
