The Lagos State Government has warned residents and traders around Oluwole Market and adjoining streets on Lagos Island to stay at least 50 metres away from the burnt 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance building for safety reasons.
The government noted that failure to comply with the directive would be treated as a criminal offence, warning that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted.
The notice was issued on Tuesday during an inspection of the site by a team from the Lagos State Building Control Agency, led by its General Manager, Gbaye Florence, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki.
Other members of the team included the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, as well as officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, the Fire Service, and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
According to the LASBCA GM, Gbaye, all buildings within a 50-metre radius of the affected structure have been sealed pending the demolition of the GNI building.
“It’s better to be safe than to be sorry. LASBCA will seal all the buildings within the 50 metres radius because the government has a responsibility to protect everyone.
We urge all Lagosians to comply with the 50 metres radius,” Gbaye said.
On his part, Oki explained that relevant agencies were working collaboratively to prevent further incidents, noting that the enforcement of the 50-metre exclusion zone was necessary to avert the collapse of surrounding structures and ensure public safety.
The SA, Olajide, stated that Governor Sanwo-Olu had constituted a special task force to oversee the deconstruction of the building.
“The work of removing affected buildings has commenced. We have removed everyone within a 50-metre radius. The governor has given us all the support we need. We are urging the community development associations and the neighborhood to ensure nobody is found within a 50-metre radius of the building,” he said.
Speaking on the restoration of normalcy to the area, Olajide stated that experts were already in discussions with the government on the timeline for the commencement and completion of the deconstruction.
“We will continue to reduce the radius as we continue the deconstruction,” he added.
Last week, Governor Sanwo-Olu ordered the demolition of the 25-storey building, which was gutted by fire on Wednesday.Sanwo-Olu, who visited the scene of the incident on Thursday, sympathised with those impacted by the inferno, pledging the government’s support.
He noted that up to 10 victims were hospitalised while lamenting the persistent occurrence of fire outbreaks at the building.
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