November 07, (THEWILL) – As investigation continues to unravel the circumstances that led to the collapse of the 21- storey building in Ikoyi, which occurred on Monday, November 1, 2021, it becomes obvious that the Lagos State Government can no longer be absolved of any blame in the tragic incident. Speculation was rife as to the exact number of floors approved by the government for the building, which is situated on 44 B,C,D Gerrard Road Ikoyi. While the suspended General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) – the agency that gives approval for construction of buildings in the state – Architect Gbolahan Oki, said only 15 floors were approved for Fourscore Heights Limited owned by Femi Osibona, an alleged relative of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Femi Hamzat, insists that the company got approval for all 21 floors.
Ironically, a document has surfaced, which clearly contradicts the deputy governor. Titled ‘Original,’ the document shows a permit from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPA), filled for Fourscore Heights Limited, which gave approval for a residential building of 15 floors of three different blocks of buildings only.
The permit, with registration number 1V2019/DO/033/67 dated 5 April 2019 and a development permit number DCB/DO/2442IV dated 9 April 2019, was signed by the General Manager of LASPPA, Kehinde Osinaike.
The document clearly states, among other things, that the site of the building should be demarcated in accordance with the site plan and that non-compliance with the approved planning permit would automatically void the permit.
This, no doubt, proves that there is a strong cover-up by the state government in a bid to exonerate itself and have someone else take the blame for the tragic incident that has since claimed 40 lives. Only nine out of over 50 people buried in the rubble of the collapsed building have been rescued so far.
Unfortunately the targeted scapegoat is the boss of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki.
Shortly before he was suspended indefinitely, Oki had revealed that not only did Osibona illegally exceed his approved limit, the reinforcement used for the collapsed high-rise were made of inferior materials.
Oki, who had only been on the seat for four months, also revealed that Osibona at some point during the construction of the building was arrested by officials of his agency, who had gone on an inspection visit, for resisting attempts to inspect the construction work going on at the site. Using his connections, Osibona got off the hook easily and construction on the site continued with the hierarchy of the state government looking unashamedly, the other way until the day of that unfortunate incident.
Now a six-man panel has been inaugurated by Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu. One may wonder what else the panel hopes to unravel when despite sounding the alarm, Oki was circumvented by the highest echelon of the state government to allow Osibona carry on without sanctions.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
