There has been speculations about the exact number of floors approved for the construction of the now collapsed 21-storey building in the Ikoyi area o
There has been speculations about the exact number of floors approved for the construction of the now collapsed 21-storey building in the Ikoyi area of Lagos state.
Gbolahan Oki, the now indefinitely suspended General Manager of LASBCA, the government agency that gives approval for building construction in the state, approved only 15 floors for Fourscore Heights Limited owned by Femi Osibona, a relative of the current Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo.
However, the deputy governor of Lagos State, Dr. Femi Hamzat, countered Mr. Oki’s claim during a visit to the site and stated that Femi Osibona and Forescore Heights Ltd were given approval for 21 floors.
Meanwhile, a document exclusively obtained by The Street Journal, tagged ‘ORIGINAL,’ shows a permit from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPA), filled for Fourscore Height Limited, which gave approval for a residential building of 15 floors of three different blocks of buildings only.
The permit with registration number 1V2019/DO/033/67, dated 5 April 2019, and a development permit number DCB/DO/2442IV, dated 9 April 2019, was signed by the general manager of LASPPA.
Part of the development condition stated that ”The subject site shall be clearly demarcated in accordance with the site plan and be made ready for development.
”Non-compliance with the approved planning permit as designed will void the permit, and the development will be regarded as illegal.”
The document clearly proves that Hamzat lied, and shows that there is a strong possible cover-up.
Also, the indefinite suspension of Oki, shows that the Lagos state government only needed someone to take the fsll for the unfortunate construction accident.
The 21-storey construction on 44 B,C,D Gerrard Road Ikoyi collapsed around 2:00 p.m. on Monday while workers were working at the site.
Twenty-two bodies have so far been recovered from under the rubble, with nine people rescued alive.
Among the recovered bodies was that of the personal assistant to Femi Osibona, the managing director of Fourscore Heights Limited. Identified simply as Nifemi.
Meanwhile, Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the establishment of an independent panel to probe the disaster.
Members will be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), and other professional bodies.
The committee will investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrences.
