The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has revealed that construction at the collapsed Ikoyi building was stopped, after it failed a structural integrity test.
Hamzat said the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) sealed the site for four months when some “anomalies” were observed.
On Monday, the 21-storey building located at Gerrard Road in Ikoyi collapsed, leaving many trapped in the rubble.
During a visit to the site on Tuesday, Hamzat confirmed that the approval for the building was issued about three years ago.
The Deputy Governor also said the number of those inside the building cannot be ascertained at the moment.
“We are not sure of the number of people inside there. It is not a residential building yet. it is not that we have tenants or a list of people,” he said.
“As a matter of fact, if you are aware, this location was sealed for about four months sometimes ago. It was sealed because our agency came in to do structural tests and saw some anomalies. So they shut it down for those things to be corrected.
“The second building will also be audited in terms of integrity test, and of course, if we find anything, then the appropriate action will be taken.”
