Ikoyi building collapse: Death toll hits 44
Rescue operations expected to end on Monday
Death toll has now reached 44 as rescue workers continue to search for victims in the rubble of the 21-storey building that collapsed on Gerrard Road, in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.
Two more bodies were reportedly recovered from the site on Sunday, which was six days after the incident, bringing the tally up to 44, from the 42 announced by Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday.
Recall that the building came tumbling down exactly a week today, Monday, 8 November, 2021.
The skyscraper, owned by Fourscore Heights Limited, trapped over 50 persons, including the firm’s Managing Director, Femi Osibona; his friend, a United States of America-based Nigerian businessman, Wale Bob-Oseni; his personal assistant, Oyinye Enekwe, and clients.
Other deceased persons included a member of the National Youth Service Corps, identified only as Oyindamola; an aluminium fabricator, Kenneth Otu; an engineer and pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Living Water Parish, Ibafo, Ogun State, Ola Ogunfunwa, among others.
The bodies recovered from the site were taken to the Lagos Mainland Hospital morgue. The relatives of the deceased were not allowed to identify their loved ones until last Saturday.
The state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday around 6 pm, said 42 bodies had been recovered so far from the rubble.
It is believed that the operation would be ended this morning (Monday).
Meanwhile, the Association of Nigerian Chartered Architects has called for three probe panels to investigate the circumstances that led to the building collapse.
The association said political, technical and judicial probe panels were needed to unravel the situation.
The ANCA, which lauded Sanwo-Olu for setting up a probe panel, advised the government to set up two other committees to get all the needed answers.
The association stated this on Sunday in a statement jointly signed by the group’s National President, Moyosore Omatsone, and National Secretary, Adekovejo Jolaoso.
The ANCA stressed that the governor had only set up a political probe panel meant to investigate the political downplay in the construction and collapse of the building.
It suggested that there was the need for a technical panel that would involve all personnel in the building construction and property industries.
According to the association, the technical panel should be given enough time to address a myriad of technical issues involved in such a complex tragedy.
