By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsuru Olowoopejo

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered occupants in all houses built by Lekki Gardens to vacate their apartments in order for integrity test to be carried out on all the buildings to ascertain their safety.

Scene of the collapsed building at Lekki , Lagos.

The governor, who visited the scene of the five-storey collapsed building which killed 34 people in Lekki area of Lagos, was obviously displeased with what he saw and ordered immediate action.

Addressing newsmen after the tour of the collapsed building site and other buildings owned by Lekki Gardens, Ambode ordered integrity test to be carried out on all the buildings by the company in Lagos to ascertain their safety.

He said the developer should take responsibility of the relocation of occupants of the buildings as government would not wait for the buildings to kill more people.

“The State Government will undertake a stability test on all other buildings constructed by the developer in the state, whether occupied or not, to ascertain their structural stability. The developer will pay the cost of the tests. Any building found to be defective would be demolished.

“For those that pass the integrity test, the developer will pay a penalty for any over-development on the site. Further to the above, the State Government intends to carry out an audit of all structures in Lagos to ascertain those with planning approval or not and evaluate the physical development against the approved building plans. The details of this initiative are being finalized and you will be briefed in due course.

Commiserating with families of those who lost their lives and those injured in the building collapse, Ambode said the responsibility of any government was to ensure the safety of lives and property of its citizens and that his government was determined not to fail in that duty.

He stated that since the tragedy occurred, his administration took some steps by ordering the immediate sealing of the construction site and cessation of further construction; ensured the co-ordinated emergency rescue of all injured victims and treatment at its hospitals and ordered the owners of the collapsed building to submit themselves to the police, which they did.

“In addition, some government officials have been relieved of their duties. I want to assure you that there will no longer be any sacred cows. If there is failure of duty, there will be sanctions,” he warned.

He assured that the state government would do everything within its powers