June 16, (THEWILLL) – The Lagos State government has taken ownership of the land, housing a 21-storey building that collapsed in Ikoyi.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, said the action of the State Government was in line with the Lagos State Physical Planning Law.
Salako, who emphasised that the law recommended that owners of collapsed buildings would forfeit the land to the State, said the Lagos State Government has not taken a decision on what it would do with the land.
He said whenever it wants to put it to use, it is likely to be used for something that will help to remember those who died in the building.
Speaking at a briefing on the handing over of the complex to the contractor engaged by the government to demolish the structures, Salako stated that the demolition would be done having the interest of the public including the residents at heart.
Also, Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, ruled out any form of compensation to those who paid to own apartments in the Collapsed building.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, also disclosed that the buildings would be completely demolished in line with the recommendation of the panel set up by the government, because they failed the integrity test.
He promised that any action taken on the project would be in the interest of the public, disclosing that a stakeholders’ meeting had previously been held to interact with residents and stakeholders in the building industry.
Managing Director of Edge of Designs, Theophilus Lewo, said the deconstruction would take about 90 days but might be extended due to weather, rain and the safety of the workers.
He said his company would not be demolishing the building, but to deconstruct using a controlled method.
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