Who Authorized the Reopening of the Collapsed Ikoyi Building?

As residents of ikoyi island axis of Lagos state, and indeed Lagosians grapples with the unfortunate incident of the collapse supposed 21 story building on Monday the 1st of November 2021 that has so far claimed the lives of over 40 people, including the developer Femi Osibona popularly known as Femi Fourscore, the question on the lips of many islanders that requires an urgent answer, even as the Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had commissioned a panel of inquiry into the incident is; who authorized the reopening of the collapse building project that was sealed sometime last year? 

Just hours after the sad incident, dramas started to unfold. First was the indefinite suspension of the General Manager Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Gbolahan Oki by the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwu-Olu. Mr Oki was quoted to have said that the effected building owner got approval to erect 15 floors and not 21 floors, a claim that was immediately countered by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State Femi Hmazat, who said the approval for the collapsed project was for 21 floors. This didn’t go down well with the Executive Governor of the state who immediately brought the axe on the LASBCA boss. 

Whilst this drama was still unfolding, a letter of disengagement purported written by the structural engineering firm consulting for the project up until February 2020 surfaced on the internet. Details of the said letter reveals that the company, Prowess Engineering Limited with office at 30a Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja G.R.A, had formerly informed the building company Fourscore Heights limited, through Mr Femi Osibona of her intention to withdraw from the ongoing project. Prowess Limited in the letter signed by Muritala Olawale, Managing Director has given as reasons for the withdrawal the disparity of visions between the company and the project owners, especially as the were no longer getting the concrete cube test results of the said collapsed building. To further buttress their argument for the withdrawal, Prowess Limited had assured of the concrete strength of the first two buildings which is still standing today, and only up to the fourth floor of the particular building that collapsed. 

Whilst on her part, the Lagos state government came out to say that the Fourscore heights project tagged 360 degrees by the developer was sealed sometime last year. According to report credited to the Punch Newspaper, the state deputy governor Femi Hamzat had said the project was sealed for four months last year; from July till November 2020. The sealing of the construction site was due to some structural defects the state agency responsible discovered during a structural test, which they insisted must be corrected before the site would be reopened. 

Videos soon emerged on the internet of a man supposed to be Mr. Osibona, the Fourscore Height owner entangled in a scuffle with men believed to be from the state agency with visible armed policemen somewhere in ikoyi axis. The said videos were that of Mr Osibona resisting arrest or the sealing of the project by the state authority. That said, there are enough proves that the state government and her relevant agencies were very much aware of the impending danger of the collapsed building and had subsequently taken action. But the answer many Lagosians, especially relatives and friends of those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident would like to get is; who authorized the reopening of the construction site? 

There is no doubt that the site was reopened for construction work as many stories including that of the sad incident of a Redeemed Christian Church of God Parish Pastor cum engineer who came with about forty labourers to the site is one indication, plus other stories of people whose loved were working on the site were either dead, still trapped or miraculously survived the collapsed 21 story building incident.

Many islanders who we spoke were very happy about the swift reaction of the state governor in setting up a panel of inquiry over the incident, but said the state government should get down to why such project that was sealed for structural defeat was reopened, and point out the exact person who gave the reopening order, while ensuring that the said individual and others who may have a hand in the ill-fated incident face the full wrath of the law, both to act as a deterrent to others who may want to toe the line and boost investors’ confidence on the integrity of the Lagos state government and her relevant agencies in ensuring that global real estate practices is uphold in the state, especially on the multi billion dollars island real estate sector.