Submit yourselves to police, Ambode tells building owners

 

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has “strongly advised’’ all directors of Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited to submit themselves to the Commissioner of Police within the next 24 hours or face immediate arrest.

A statement yesterday by Commissioner for Information and Strategy Steve Ayorinde,  said the governor had also directed the suspension of work at the Lekki Gardens construction following the building collapse.

He said 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.

Ayorinde said it had 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, had unsealed the property.

According to him, they continued building beyond the approved floors until the unfortunate incident of Tuesday which led to loss of lives.

He said the government also directed that further integrity tests be carried out on every other construction project which had or is currently being handled by the company in the interest of public safety.

The Commissioner said the governor expressed his condolence over the death of the construction site workers.

He said the governor had ordered the Police to cordon off the site as it was a crime scene.

Ayorinde added that the government would no longer tolerate the actions of unscrupulous owners and builders who challenge its supervisory control, thereby endangering the lives of people.

“It will no longer be business as usual.

“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,” Ayorinde said.

He commended the timely response by the combined team of the Lagos State Emergency Authority (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service and National Emergency Agency (NEMA), among others.