Five persons, including a teenager and an octogenarian, were rescued yesterday from a collapsed three-storey building in Lagos. The building fell at 4, Odunfa Street, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, around 9am. Many residents are expressing fear that people may still be trapped in the rubble.
Before the building called “barracks” collapsed, some of the residents, particularly those on the third floor, were said to have escaped through windows.
While outside, they claimed that their neighbours trapped in the rubble called them, appealing to be rescued.
Four persons had been rescued when The Nation got to the scene; two excavators were also being used to create holes between the slabs, to create easy access for those trapped.
The octogenarian, was rescued over four hours after the collapse.
She was carried on a stretcher, with an oxygen mask placed on her mouth and nostrils before she was conveyed to a Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) vehicle.
The grey-haired woman, who was in dust, covered in, looked strong, and attempted to clean her ears.
A combined team of Police, army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA); National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); federal and state fire service; Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA) and Lagos Safety Commission took charge of the situation.
Speaking with reporters, LSBCA General Manager Shola Aderigbebe, said the building had been marked for integrity test after the residents were issued 14 days ultimatum.
“For this building, we have served them 14 days ultimatum. The ultimatum has expired before today. We asked them to conduct structural stability test (SST) and they agreed. We were still waiting for them to conduct the test before the building collapsed.
“The test would have helped us to ascertain if the building was distressed or not. Some buildings can be defective but when the test is conducted, we will be able to know if the building can be renovated or demolished.
“We have opened a file for the building. Marking a building does not mean we are demolishing because no building can be demolished until a test has been conducted to ascertain its stability.
“In the last four months, we have sealed 1104 buildings for lack of compliance. Some are illegal structures, while some are distressed.”
LASEMA boss Michael Akindele said those rescued were taken to Lagos Island General Hospital.
He said the numbers of occupants of the building could not be ascertained, adding that it could also not be confirmed if people were trapped.
“We cannot say if people are trapped or not because we have not gotten to ground zero. But so far, five persons have been rescued and we are still working. All agencies responded in good time and we are doing everything possible to ensure that lives are saved,” he said.
Assistant Director, Federal Fire Service, Okone Macaulay said weak structure was responsible for the collapse.
“Initially we rescued about four people that were slightly injured from the building. We haven’t seen any victims. The challenges are the equipment used to bring the debris out. It is an old building but as time went on, they have been increasing it.
“The cause hasn’t been ascertained but the building is weak. The landlord was informed as at last month and he did not do anything. I believe as at yesterday (Tuesday), people were packing out of the building not knowing it was going to collapse this morning.”
Some residents blamed the landlord and caretaker for negligence.
They insisted that they had complained to the owners, Onibudo family and the agent, Shile Buga that the building was leaking and weak.
Some accused government agencies in charge of conducting integrity tests of collecting bribes from landlords.
A resident, Fatimah Usman said: “They didn’t give us quit notice. My shop is not far from my house. I took my child to school. I was relaxing outside when the building collapsed. I ran and called my husband who was inside when the building collapsed. I didn’t know how he came out. I just saw him few minutes later.
“We have been living here since four years ago. We have told the landlord severally that the house isn’t good but he didn’t listen. Even last month, when they brought a letter from the state government about the building, he ignored it. Some of us even contributed money for the renovation and now we have been rendered homeless.
“Those on the third floor may have seen signs; I stay on the second floor and I did not notice anything.”
Another resident, Bisola Lawal said landlords in the area usually collected money for renovation from tenants, without doing anything.
She said: “Government should rescue us. They collected money from us claiming they want to renovate their buildings but when you move into the flat, you will not see any sign of renovation. It is really painful. It is not our wish that we are here. It is because we cannot afford houses on the mainland.
“Government should pity us. At times they (agencies) will come to test the soil and some landlords will bribe them. I know the government may not be aware but they should screen their workers.”
Enitan Ayinla said she scaled through her window into a nearby uncompleted building.
She said: “Three pupils were standing this morning and talking to themselves. So, I called one of them and asked what they were talking about and she said our building was making some sound and has cracked.
“I had just a wrapper on and I told my husband what the children said. He told me to dress up and go downstairs to check the area that was cracked.
“We were still at the staircase when we heard a huge sound and the building collapsed. It was through the uncompleted building beside us that my husband and I escaped.
“People have been calling us that they were in the building and they said the heat was much. We were seven who escaped from the building.
“I still know some of us that were in the building but I haven’t seen them. I am glad my children had gone to school because I don’t know how I would have escaped with them.”
Idris Shoga, 50, who claimed that, he paid N150, 000 per year for a self-contained, room and parlour, said the building was recently renovated.
He claimed that the over 30-year-old structure was renovated about six years ago.
Shoga explained that dusts came out of the structure before it caved in, adding that he cried when he escaped unhurt.
“This building is really old; I grew up to know the building. It was very spacious and was built with high standards.
“Things changed when the owner passed on and those who inherited the family house started demarcating it. It is really unfortunate. It is like a barracks. I can’t count the number of people living there. It was demarcated into different parts,” he said.
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