Gbenga Omotoso: Collapsed Alakija Building Was Marked As Distressed

Omotoso says the Alakija building that collapsed had been marked distressed and shut before occupants returned, leading to tragedy.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Gbenga Omotoso, said the multi-storey building that collapsed in Alakija, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, on Thursday morning, had been marked as “distressed” and shut down by the government before some occupants allegedly returned to the premises.

“The house had been marked ‘distressed,’ and everybody there had to leave. In fact, at a time, it was shut down. But before the government could come in there to remove the structure, people went back in there,” he lamented.

Commiserating with the families of those affected, Omotoso conveyed the condolences of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government to residents who lost loved ones in the incident, describing the collapse as a tragic occurrence.

“The first thing is just to extend the condolences of Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and the government of Lagos State to all of those people who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident,” he said.

Speaking on the recurring cases of building collapse in Lagos, Omotoso attributed the incidents largely to the failure of some residents and property owners to comply with safety regulations and government directives on distressed structures.

“As to why it keeps on occurring, it’s very simple: people don’t want to obey the law. If you obey the law, everything will be fine. We keep on marking all these buildings and pulling them down, but before you get to some, this kind of thing happens. So, it’s because people are not responsible. People believe in prioritizing commercial activities and livelihood over life, which is very, very wrong. Once the government says a building is unsafe, I do not see why people should go in there,” he stressed.

He maintained that Lagos State has the necessary laws and enforcement mechanisms in place, adding that emergency and regulatory agencies continue to monitor, seal and demolish unsafe structures to prevent disasters.

“The enforcement agencies are there to do their job, and we keep on bringing down all these buildings,” he maintained.

Addressing concerns over possible regulatory failures, Omotoso said government officials found culpable in previous cases of building collapse had faced disciplinary measures, including suspension, dismissal and prosecution, depending on the severity of their involvement.

“Of course, actions will be taken. In fact, a couple of people have been fired because of this kind of thing, and I know about some people too who were asked to face the law because of this kind of thing. The Lagos State government does not give room to people to play with the lives of Lagosians. But it’s not all the time that some of these things come to the media for people to see that actually the government is dealing with people who are playing with the lives of Lagosians,” he explained.

On measures to prevent a recurrence, Omotoso said Governor Sanwo-Olu had directed the immediate demolition of distressed buildings around the scene of the collapse, with relevant state agencies already carrying out the exercise.

“First, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has directed that all the buildings around the scene of the incident that are weak, that are distressed, that are not supposed to be standing, that are not fit for human habitation, they must be brought down. And that started this evening at about 4:00 PM.

“The Lagos State Building Control Agency, with the Lagos State Environmental Management Agency, Emergency Management Agency, they started bringing down all those buildings. So they are going to be brought down. And as I said, we will look for the owners of such buildings and prosecute them,” he revealed.

Adding, he said: “Like I said, any official of the Lagos State Building Control Agency who may have complicity in the incident, they will not go unpunished.”

Responding to concerns about housing shortages, the Commissioner said the state government had delivered about 13,000 housing units and commissioned more than 21 estates in the last seven years, with additional projects expected to be unveiled in the coming months.

“The government is doing its own duty, and we are very proud of what we have achieved in the housing sector in the last seven years—about 13,000 units, over 21 estates commissioned in about seven years. And in a few months, about three months, four estates are going to be commissioned. So I think the Lagos State government is doing well,” he praised.

He added that the state government was working on legislation to curb arbitrary rent increases, while also encouraging private sector investment to boost housing supply and improve access to accommodation for residents.

“That is why we have a law that is in the making now—it’s in the House of Assembly, it’s in the works—where landlords are not supposed to increase rent arbitrarily, and then the tenants too, they will know their own duties.

“So in the housing sector, we’ll be encouraging the private sector people to come in and build as many houses as possible so that Lagosians can have places to stay. It’s a question of demand and supply. Unfortunately, as we have it now, demand is greater—far, far greater than what we have in terms of supply. But the government will continue to encourage the private sector to come into the sector and be able to build more houses so that as many people as possible can be accommodated,” he noted.

On the capacity of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Omotoso said the agency was adequately equipped with experts and technical tools to identify distressed structures and determine buildings unfit for habitation.

“LASBCA is very well equipped. They have experts, they have equipment, they know how to test buildings to ensure that any building that they mark is distressed—is actually distressed—and that it’s not as if they want to do it out of their own, selfish interest, but that technically this building is bad, it’s bad,” he said.

On whether the Lagos State Government would provide support for families of victims, Omotoso said he could not confirm any compensation plans, maintaining that the government could not encourage what he described as irresponsible disregard for safety directives.

“Then as for the people who may have lost their loved ones in this incident, as I have said, Mr. Governor is saddened about it, he’s feeling very bad. He continues to ask why our people will not listen to simple instructions. As of now, I cannot say that there will be support. But I do not think it makes sense for the government to compensate irresponsibility,” he concluded.