Building collapse: Lagos demolishes 2-storey building

… As thousands displaced in Kuramo Beach

Photo: 

Sun News Publishing

By: 

OLUWOLE FAROTIMI and Tony Ogaga Erhariefe

Date: 

Thu, 07/05/2012

 

Lagos State Government has demolished a two-storey building that partially collapsed after a downpour on Tuesday at 49 Freeman Street, Oyingbo area of the state. According to the Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Emergency Management Agencies (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu the state government had to demolish the building to avert loss of lives and property.

Osanyitolu said officials of LASEMA were on ground, saying there was no casualty, as the rescue team arrived on time to rescue those trapped in the building. The LASEMA boss said government had evacuated everyone from the building and sealed it off before the demolition squad went to begin the demolition exercise. He said some of those rescued included a pregnant woman, nine-month-old baby, children and others.

In tandem with the existing laws of the state the landlord of the house, still at large, would have the title of the land revoked by the state government.    Meanwhile, it was tears and sorrow yesterday when policemen attached to the Lagos State Police Command along with a task force from the state government armed with AK 47 rifles swooped on Kuramo Beach and demolished structures on the peninsula in a move that has left thousands of squatters displaced and homeless.

The operation, which began as early as 10 am in the morning was described as a rude shock to squatters some who had made the beach their home for the last 25 to 30 years. “This is a sad development, this is what the government always does,” lamented Sylvester Iyere aka Gold and Silver, ex-PMAN chairman, Eti Osa Local Government Area, who had been running his business at the beach for over 10 years.

“After we, the poor, developed the place, the rich drive us away and share it among themselves. That’s what they did with Maroko. Now they are doing the same thing with Kuramo Beach. “It has affected a lot of people here and made them useless.  Some of these businesses are over 40 years old and were inherited from their fathers.”

SOURCE: 5 July 2012.