Lagos State Government has revealed that it gave the owner of the collapsed 21-storey building approval to construct only 15 floors.
Gatekeepers News reports that the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki says the owner of the collapsed 21-storey building under construction in Ikoyi area of the state was given the approval to construct only 15 floors.
Oki while speaking to NAN on Monday, said the owner of the property had been previously arrested, adding that he would face the law because people have died in the building collapse.
He said, “He got an approval for a 15-storey building and he exceeded his limit. I am on ground here and the materials he used are so inferior and terrible.
“The materials he used, the reinforcement, are so terrible. He got approval for 15 floors but built 21.
“I think he has been locked down. He has been arrested before now.”
While noting that rescue efforts are ongoing, Oki said “We are still here and have four machines working as at this moment.”
A witness had said the owner of the building was also trapped in the rubble. Also, not less than 50 people are said to still be trapped in the collapsed building.
The building, which was under construction, was located at 20, Gerrard road in Ikoyi and was scheduled to be completed in 2022.
Gatekeepers News gathered that the structural Engineers that were initially in charge of the project had withdrawn their service, on the ground that they “no longer share same vision with you as our client in terms of how the project is being executed.”
The structural engineers further called for the removal of the company and logo from the project.
