Lagos State to Demolish Buildings Failing Integrity Test, Sanwo-Olu Warns

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced that buildings that fail the state’s integrity test will be demolished.

This announcement comes in the wake of a fire incident at the Dosunmu Market on the Lagos Island, where 14 buildings collapsed after two initially caught fire.

Sanwo-Olu visited the site of the fire on Thursday and expressed his disappointment over the preventable disaster.

He emphasized that access to the fire was denied to first responders for a couple of hours, which may have contributed to the severity of the situation.

The fire, which started more than 48 hours ago, still remains active.

The governor highlighted the need for adherence to the state’s rules and regulations of construction to prevent such incidents in the future.

He warned that any property not conforming to these standards would be brought down.

“What I have seen here is what could have been prevented; we do not have a full report yet, so I do not want to speculate.

From the initial report, it was gross carelessness,’’ Sanwo-Olu said at the site of the fire.

The Dosunmu Market will be closed indefinitely, as a result of the fire, with the governor pledging support for the affected traders to help them get back on their feet.

Sanwo-Olu lamented the use of residential apartments as warehouses, stating that more buildings may be demolished after extensive testing.

He emphasized the importance of preventing such accidents to avoid spending scarce resources on avoidable incidents.

The Lagos State Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and integrity of buildings within the state is evident in this latest move.

As the situation at the Dosunmu Market continues to unfold, the government’s resolve to take action against non-conforming properties serves as a strong reminder of the importance of adhering to building regulations and standards.