Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has sympathised with victims and families who lost their lives when a two storey building collapsed in Ikorodu on Tuesday.
He also appealed to residents to effectively partner with the agency to achieve effective and efficient disaster risk reduction in the state.
Osanyintolu made the appeal while addresssing newsmen at its oversight at the collapsed building at Awolowo way, Ota-Ona area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
He assured residents of Lagos state that under the watch of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the agency would ensure safety of lives and property.
“The two storey building collapsed on Monday and we immediately initiated our emergency response.
“All the key stakeholders that are important in managing emergency moved in.
“We are able to rescue 11 people alive and we recovered three bodies, however, we sympathise with families that lost their loved ones ,” he said.
According to him, the Lagos state government has invested hugely in the management of disaster.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government area of the state, Mr Wasiu Adesina, described the incident as a tragedy that resulted in the loss of three lives.
Adesina, represented by Mr Lateef Afini, Secretary to the council, expressed gratitude LASEMA for their prompt response and promised to partner with the state government.
“I want to assure you that the Ikorodu council will do the needful to reduce this kind of disaster.
“We will visit the affected families. Death is inevitable according to Shakespeare and will surely come,” he said.
Speaking at the site of the collapsed building, Mr Lanre Itameta, relation to one of the victims, said they would not blame anybody, pointing out that things happen in accordance with our destinies, adding that construction of the collapsed building began in October 2024.
“We are not happy but there is nothing we can do, we just want to believe it is destiny.
“The building collapsed around 2:p.m while children were praying because they could not go to the mosque due to the Oro festival ,” he said.
