The general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, has said that the owner of the collapsed 25-store
The general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, has said that the owner of the collapsed 25-storey building under construction in Ikoyi, Femi Osibona was given approval to construct only 15 floors.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oki said the owner of the property had been previously arrested, adding that he would face the law because people have died in the building collapse.
“He got an approval for a 15-storey structure and he exceeded his limit. I am on ground here and the materials he used are so inferior and terrible,” Oki said.
“The materials he used, the reinforcement, are so terrible. He got approval for 15 floors but built 21.
“I think he has been locked down. He has been arrested before now.”
Oki added that rescue efforts are ongoing.
“We are still here and have four machines working as at this moment,” he said.
The collapsed building had an overwhelming structural defect which was a result of a deviation from the intended original structural performance of the structure.
This prompted the managing director of Prowess Engineering Limited, the structural consultants of the building, to withdraw its services, claiming that Osibona had deviated from the shared vision for the structure
A witness had said the owner of the building was also trapped in the rubble.
Meanwhile, at least 50 people are said to still be trapped in the collapsed structure.
