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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has said the four-storey building that collapsed at 4, Alayaki lane, Freeman road, Lagos Island, on Saturday afternoon violated building safety protocols.
Giving an update on Saturday evening, the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement said the building had been captured by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) District Office and served with all statutory notices.
The statement read: “The Agency responded to the above incident which was already in violation of building safety protocols. It was discovered that the building had been captured by the LASBCA District Office and served with all Statutory Notices, Sealed at District and Central Enforcement Level.
“Further investigation determined that the developer had continued clandestine operations mostly at night and at the weekends.
“An unconfirmed number of people are still trapped inside the building.
“Two people have been rescued alive while another was recovered dead
Search and Rescue operations ongoing.”