A stitch in time saves nine; collapsed building in Lagos
‘Avoidable deaths are acts of murder, which demands justice and ownership of responsibility for actions leading to them’
Engr. Oni
It’s always a fact that a stitch in time saves nine.
Around 10:49 am on Wednesday, a four-storey building consisting of residential building, a school as well as a shoping complex on the ground floor, collapsed at Ita Faji on the Lagos Island, Lagos State, killing and trapping many people inside.
The building, which was described by residents and rescue workers, as very old, dilapidated and marked for demolition since early last year, came crashing down after giving signs of fatigue.
The building has been showing signs of collapsing for years now but everyone turned a blind eyes to it. This fatality would have been avoided long ago if right things have been put in the right places, but as far as it’s not damaged yet, who cares?
Scene at the collapsed building
Lagos State governor Akinwunmi Ambode was at the scene
At General hospital, Lagos Island
Source: http://saharareporters.com/2019/03/13/breaking-children-feared-dead-school-building-collapses-lagos-island
some of the rescued children
For example, about six years ago, the landlord of an adjacent building noticed the state of the building is getting worse, so he contacted the Lagos State government at Alausa about the property, they came and inspected it and there conclusion was to close down the building for thorough works to be done on the building, but the owner of the property brided the officials and they turned a blind eye to it, they even told the owner of the property the person that reported the building to them, and since then till now, the two landlords don’t see eye to eye.
Two years ago, a woman was lamenting to the landlord about the situation of the building, that she had to report her to the Lagos State government again, this time the building was sealed but reopened again in less than 3 days; as usual, he has gone to bribe them and the foolish and stupid government officials collected the money and normal business continued even without the landlord doing any minor repairs on the building.
One of the pupils in the school of the collapsed building was having his birthday that fateful day the building collapsed, he pleaded and cried to his mum that he wanted to stay with her at home that day, but the woman will be regretting her actions for not listening to the poor boy right now, because the boy lost his life in the incident.
A very sad day for Lagos and Nigeria as a whole, and all these happened because of the stupidity of a man and irresponsible government and it’s officials. I just wonder the trauma the lady will be going through now and how she’ll be able to leave with herself for the rest of her life.
Another pupil was sick and was rushed to the hospital from the school in the morning around 9:00, the mother had to leave her work to attend to her baby at the hospital, now she’s thanking God for making her sick at that particular period.
Some teachers confirmed dead, and some occupants of the building will be so glad they went to their various works that fateful morning, while some will be in agony now.
The governor elect, Sanwo-olu walked past a grieving parent and he didn’t alter any word, not even a word to show sympathy, he just walk past her.
One mother of two whose two children died in the incident, today, committed suiside because she couldn’t bear the loss of her two only children, she gave birth to the two of them through Cesarean section (C-section).
Another woman whose child was critically injured has been standing without sitting for nine (9) straight hours at the general hospital where all the victims were conveyed to, weeping and praying for her child’s quick recovery
Official figures are yet to be released by the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA. However, according to some residents, eye witnesses and Sahara reporters they said about 19 people have been confirmed dead with over 40 survivors are still receiving treatment at the general hospital on the island.
At the General Hospital in Lagos Island, Marina, grieving People, including family and friends were everywhere, from the parking lot, to the front gate, to the mortuary, to the wards and anywhere they could get word(s) from, on their relatives or friends currently receiving treatment.
All these could have been avoided with just a bag or two of cement and few sand, to repair it when it was just a cracks.
It’s a colossal loss, my prayers and thoughts are with the parents, family and friends of the people who lost their lives at Ita faji, Lagos Island.
May the good lord give them the fortitude to bear the loss
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Live scene when a female pupil was rescued
Source: sahara reporters