Tag: Collapsed Building

  • Again, Two-Storey Building Collapses in Lagos

    Again, Two-Storey Building Collapses in Lagos

    A two-storey building on Chris Igadi Street, in the Ago Palace Way area of Lagos State, collapsed on Saturday.

    Our correspondent gathered that people residing in the building vacated the premises immediately after the building gave a sign it wanted to collapse.

    The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said no casualty was recorded during the incident, adding that the site of the collapsed structure had been handed over to the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

    He said, “The agency responded to the collapsed two-story building on Chris Igadi Street, off Ago Palace Way, opposite Kilimanjaro/ AP filling station, around 3am this morning.

    “On arrival, information gathered from the residents revealed that the building gave signs several hours before it collapsed. Fortunately, nobody was trapped as all the occupants evacuated the area when the signs began two hours before the collapse.

    “A headcount of occupants was carried out to ensure no occupants is missing and the remains of the building were cordoned off. The operation was concluded around 5:23am. The site will be handed over to LABSCA and Ministry of Physical Planning for further investigation.”

  • Architects plans law to curb menace of building collapse

    Architects plans law to curb menace of building collapse

    By Doris Ferdinand

    The Nigerian Institute of Architects has muted a plan to sponsor a bill with the help of the national Assembly to bring to an end the menace of building collapse in the country.

    The issue of Building collapse has become a PAhas led to loss of lives and properties in recent times.

    The National President of the Institute Architect Sunny Echono spoke when the leadership paid a courtesy call on the Clerk of the National Assembly Architect Olatunde Ojo Amos on solidarity.

    Echono said they have a legislative agenda which will help to ensure that only professionals with capacity, experience and the competence would be allowed to carry out construction.

    “Well it is an agenda of the institute, just like in the issue of building collapse we talk about, to streghten the legislative framework and the laws.”

    This he said is to ensure that only those who have the capacity, the experience and the competence to carry out construction activities do so.

    “We want to increase liabilities for actors and even building owners because of the responsibility they bear to the public.”

    He added that they also want to do same for users of the building to avoid a situation whether due to poor workmanship or cutting of corners or using inappropriate building materials or even using quacks to engage in the building and construction of projects that collapse occurs.

    Echono also said that they intend bringing defaulters to book and enforce it. He said they are going to give guidelines on how to designate monuments, buildings of historical values and other national assets in order to preserve them.

    He said they will designate proper places for palaces, worship centres, traditional settings, to be able to promote them as historical sites.

    “We want to also package them for recognition by UNESCO and other world bodies so that they cannot only act as reflections of our traditions but also offer tourist attraction for people to come and visit them.

    “We want to restore them and make them living testament to our history. “We are also looking for various other forms of partnership with the National Assembly and with other branches of Government.

    “We want to make it compulsory that for example our buildings must be responsive to all the users including those who are physically challenged.

    “There are some building today that are not compliant, if one is on a wheel chair it takes two hours just to get into the premises.

    “We want to make sure there is adequate provision for disable people in every building in this country.

    “The current practice where the lifespan of building in Nigeria is only between 10 and 20 years in other parts of the world buildings last 100 years.

    “It is only when your house can last for that long that you can derive the benefit of the investment you put in. If you have to replace it after 20 years you can never pay back the cost of construction hence you will lose.” He added.

  • School Building Collapses in Lagos

    A three-storey building housing a School Excel College at 15, Ansarudeen, Ile Epo Bus Stop, Iyana Ejigbo collapsed at about 8.15 am but did not trap anyone with schools currently on lockdown.

    The building according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency is a part of a conjoined (twin) three-storey building each.

    The collapsed portion which was attributed to “visible distress”, has seriously affected the second wing with visible cracks on the walls, pillars, and decking of the second portion.

    Information from school officials revealed that the collapsed building had previously shown signs of distress.

    They added that the school authority was planning to renovate and refortify the collapsed structure.

  • Woman rescued as another building collapses in Lagos

    Woman rescued as another building collapses in Lagos

    A 30-year-old woman was on Friday afternoon rescued from the rubble of a collapsed three-storey building in Ebute-Metta.

    The building, located directly opposite Ebute Metta Comprehensive Health Centre on Abeokuta Street, collapsed around 1pm.

    This incident occurred barely two weeks after another three-storey building collapsed on a bungalow at Freeman Street, Lagos Island, killing a policewoman and two children.

    Although no life was lost in Friday’s incident, residents said it was because the building gave way in the afternoon when occupants have gone out.

    According to Director General Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the rescued woman has been evacuated to the hospital for treatment.

    Oke-Osanyintolu said the cause of the building collapse was yet to be determined, adding the place had been cordoned off to prevent secondary disaster.

    He said buildings adjacent to the collapsed structure were being examined for possible damages by material testing agency.

    Among responders were LASEMA Response Team (LRT), LRU Ambulance unit, Lasambus, LABSCA, Material Texting Agency, Lagos Fire Service and the Police.