The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lekki Gardens

  • Lekki Gardens empowers survivors of collapsed building

    Lekki Gardens empowers survivors of collapsed building

    The 11 survivors of the March 8 collapsed Lekki Gardens building were yesterday empowered by the firm to start life afresh.

    Lekki Gardens Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Richard Nyong gave a tricycle and N50,000 cash to each of the survivors “to start some business and pick up the pieces of their lives” again. The event took place at the firm’s premises in Lekki.

    Nyong described the gesture as the first step to redress the damage they suffered from the incident.

    He said: “On behalf of the board this is to show deepest concern and regret and to say sorry to the people that lost so much. The company’s decision is to begin to help in whatever way to correct what went wrong. In trying to do something meaningful we lost our friends, some died and some were wounded, it was a very difficult situation for everybody. We are very hurt by the accident but God saved our lives. It is very hurtful and painful, it could have been anybody.”

    According to him, no money is enough to start life again, but “the survivors can use whatever we give them now to pick up the pieces of their lives. The little money could turn out to be seeds of greatness. We pray that God will continue to help everybody affected by that incident to come out of the trauma.”

    He commiserated with the bereaved families, promising that the company also has plans to take care of them. “We are starting with the ones that are alive and very soon we shall also invite them and present to them what we have for them.”

    Nyong thanked the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Federal Government emergency agencies and the general hospital for their help during the incident.

    A Lekki Gardens building under construction collapsed on March 8, killing scores of people and injuring others, mostly workers.

    The beneficiaries are Elechi Chika, Tunde Busari, Waliu Rasak, Emeka Okorie, Wahab Olalude, Kayode Ezekiel, Chikodi James, Chukwudi James, Idowu Salawu, Hassan Isiaku and Tajudeen Ajani.

    Speaking on behalf of others, Elechi thanked Lekki Gardens for the gesture.

    “They were always in the hospital to encourage us and now they have capped it up with these empowerment items, we appreciate them.

    “They took very good care of us”, Elechi said.

     

  • Lekki Gardens: we’ve building papers

    LEKKI Gardens yesterday denied allegations that 32 of its 34 “active building sites” in Lagos have no permits.

    Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Ltd., promoters of Lekki Gardens, said it was impossible to embark on such projects without an approval.

    A building in Lekki Gardens Estate collapsed last March 8, killing 35 persons.

    Steve Agbiboa, Manager of Lekki Worldwide Estate, said people should think more of how to help the embattled firm get out of its mishap rather than compound things.

    He said building sites in Lagos were monitored daily by Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development officials and other agencies involved in urban development and town planning.

    On the allegation that the company may have used substandard materials, Agbiboa said: “The question is how this relatively young company was able to get away with such impunity? We must give the state some credence”, adding: “The immediate concern of the company now is how to bring succour to the bereaved families and those injured in the unfortunate incident of March 8.

    “So far the company has taken up their medical bills and is trying to rehabilitate them so as to make the pain less.”

  • Building Collapse: Ambode seals-off Lekki Gardens

    Building Collapse: Ambode seals-off Lekki Gardens

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday ordered the seal-off of the Lekki Gardens following the collapse of a five story building within the site on March 8.

    Ambode announced the decision during a news conference at the Lagos House, Alausa shortly after an inspection tour of the site at Ikusenla Road, Ikate-Elegushi in Lekki area of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 34 people died in the building collapse.

    Ambode said an integrity test would be done on all other buildings constructed by the developer in the state, whether occupied or not, to ascertain their structural stability.

    “The developer will pay the cost of the tests.

    “Any building found to be defective will be demolished; for those that pass the integrity test, the developer will pay a penalty for any over-development on the site,” he said.

    Ambode said that the State Government also intended to carry out an audit of all structures to ascertain those with planning approval or
    without, and evaluate the physical development against the approved building plans.

    He said that the government would do everything within its powers to check the excesses of developers who flout its regulations.

    Ambode assured that efficiency and confidence would be restored in the building control and supervision process.

    He said that to this end, a five-man committee had been established to examine the urban and regional planning law of the state.

    Ambode said that the committee was expected to examine the operations of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and make recommendations for changes that would ensure effective service delivery, among others.

    According to him, the committee will submit its report in four weeks.

    He said that the state was open to business for those who would comply with the state laws and regulations in order to prosper.

    “Our main concern is to continue to improve on the ease of doing business and uphold the rule of law at all times.

    “Those who choose non-compliance and defiance will henceforth face the full weight of the law without fear or favour,” Ambode said.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Wasiu Anifowoshe advised residents in the estate to vacate the buildings to allow the government carry out integrity test on them.

     

  • Building Collapse: Lagos halts Lekki Gardens’ construction

    …Asks directors to report to Police within 24hours

    The Lagos State Government has halted construction on Lekki Gardens’ site, following the death of 25 construction site workers who lost their lives on Tuesday as a result of the collapse of a five-storey building under construction.

    The State Government has consequently directed the suspension of work at the site and ordered the State Police Command to cordon it off as it is now a crime scene.

    In a press release issued on Wednesday and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Lagos State Government also announced that based on preliminary reports and investigation, it was discovered that the collapsed building was served contravention notice for exceeding the approved floors and thereafter sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

    It added that it has also been discovered that in a brazen act of defiance and impunity, the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of Lekki Gardens, criminally unsealed the property and continued building beyond the approved floors until the unfortunate incident of Tuesday which has led to loss of lives.

    The statement added that arising from the Lagos State Executive Council meeting decision on Wednesday, the State Government will no longer tolerate the action of unscrupulous owners and builders who challenge its supervisory control thereby endangering the lives of Lagosians.

    The government also directed further integrity tests be carried out on every other construction project which has or is currently being handled by Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited in the interest of public safety.

    Furthermore, the release quoted the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as saying that all directors of Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited are strongly advised to submit themselves to the State Commissioner of Police within the next twenty four hours in their own interest or face immediate arrest.

    The statement also commended the timely response and remarkable intervention by the combined men of the Lagos State Emergency Authority (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Red Cross, National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Building Control Agency and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    The State Government also warned that it will no longer be business as usual stating that any developer either on existing or new building projects who fails to comply with building and construction regulations or attempts to subvert the law will henceforth face criminal prosecution.

    The State Government however expresses its condolences on the death of the victims.

     

     

  • Building collapse: Death toll rises to 29

    Building collapse: Death toll rises to 29

    The death toll at the collapsed five-storey structure located at the end of Kushenla Road, Chisco bus stop, Ikate Elegushi in Lekki area of Lagos State, which collapsed on Tuesday morning has hit 29.

    South West Spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed to our reporter that more bodies were recovered from the rubbles Wednesday bringing the death toll to 29.

    General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Micheal Akindele who also confirmed the death toll, said 18 bodies were recovered on Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the suspension of work in the area by Lekki Gardens, the construction company behind the collapsed building.

    The Governor in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, also asked all the directors of the said Lekki Gardens Company, to report to the Commissioner of Police, within the next 24-hours, in their own interest.

    Ambode who also expressed condolences on behalf of the government over the death of construction site workers, who lost their lives on Tuesday as a result of the collapse, said the initial enquirers by the state government showed that safety standards had been dangerously compromised, coupled with weak supervision which must have led to the collapse of the building.

    He said the state government will no not fold its arms and allow unnecessary loss of lives and property.

    “Such criminal neglect will no longer go without appropriate consequences,” he said

    He however commended the timely response and intervention by the combined men of the Lagos State Emergency Authority (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Red Cross, National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Building Control Agency and the Rapid Response Service (RRS), which helped to save the lives of about 15 persons who were retrieved from the rubbles alive