Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has ordered all directors of Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited to submit themselves to the State Commissioner of Police within the next 24 hours or face immediate arrest.
This is contained in a statement on Wednesday, issued and signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde.
The advice is sequel to Tuesday’s collapse of a five-storey building under construction on Kushenla Road, Ikate Elegushi in Lekki. The incident claimed no fewer than 20 lives.
Ayorinde said that the state government had also directed the suspension of work at the Lekki Gardens construction following the building collapse.
He said that based on preliminary reports and investigation, it was discovered that the collapsed building was served contravention notice for exceeding the approved floors and thereafter sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency.
Ayorinde said that it had also been discovered that in a brazen act of defiance and impunity, the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of Lekki Gardens, had unsealed the property.
According to him, they continued building beyond the approved floors until the unfortunate incident of Tuesday which has led to loss of lives.
He said that the government also directed that further integrity tests be carried out on every other construction project which had or is currently being handled by the company in the interest of public safety.
The Commissioner said that Governor Ambode expressed his condolence over the death of the construction site workers who lost their lives.
He said the governor had ordered the Lagos State Police Command to cordon off the site as it was a crime scene.
Ayorinde said that the government would no longer tolerate the actions of unscrupulous owners and builders who challenged its supervisory control, thereby endangering the lives of people.
“It will no longer be business as usual.
“Any developer, either on existing or new building projects, who fails to comply with building and construction regulations or attempts to subvert the law, will henceforth face criminal prosecution,” Ayorinde said.
He commended the timely response by the combined team of the Lagos State Emergency Authority (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service and National Emergency Agency (NEMA), among others. (NAN)
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