Three days after the tragic building collapse in Ojodu-Berger, the Lagos State Government is intensifying its investigation into what many now call a preventable disaster.
EpeInsights reports that the collapse, which claimed seven lives and injured thirteen, has sparked a wider conversation about regulatory failure, building integrity, and accountability.
At the centre of the probe is one key question: How did a building reportedly abandoned for over a decade resume construction without raising red flags?
According to residents, the structure located on Oremeta Street had been left unoccupied for years before reconstruction began at the top floor.
Many are now asking whether the resumed activity received proper inspection or approval from the necessary regulatory bodies.
Meanwhile, Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, promised that the owner of the building would face the law.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said, “There is a procedure if there is any building collapse. The state government will find out how it happened. Naturally, the law will take its course — the owner of the building will face the law,” he said.
While the building owner is expected to be held accountable, critics say the buck doesn’t stop there. Attention is also turning toward state regulatory bodies:
- Was the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) aware of ongoing construction?
- Were permits granted, or was this a case of illegal development?
- What role did local authorities play in monitoring the site?
On Monday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) concluded its search and rescue operations.
Seven bodies were recovered, and 13 people were rescued alive, some still receiving medical care.
