President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that the rate at which structures are collapsing in the country has reached an alarming rate.
While commiserating with the families of those who died and were injured in the building collapse in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos State, Buhari stated that it is past time for the relevant state authorities to work closely with professional bodies to put a stop to these unfortunate but avoidable incidents.
On Monday, his media assistant, Femi Adesina, issued a statement in which Buhari expressed his feelings.
At the time of filing this report, search and rescue were still ongoing at the site.
The President, who said he is pained by this tragic incident, praised the courage and determination of the first responders, national and sub-national emergency agencies in Lagos State, and compassionate Nigerians, whose immediate action in the aftermath of the collapse of the three-storey building led to the rescue of several persons, including many children.
“The frequency of building collapses in the country has become increasingly embarrassing, the relevant state authorities must work closely with professional bodies to put a halt to these unfortunate but preventable incidents,” the President stated in a terse message.
He wished those injured a speedy recovery and prayed for divine assistance in the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Recall that in Lagos also, a high rise apartment building under construction at Victoria Island had also collapsed killing several people in the process, including the owner of the building, Femi Osibona.