The Lagos State Government has begun investigation into the cause of the three-storey building collapse at 2/4 Oye Sonuga Street, Palmgrove, Mushin on Friday.

Disclosing this at the site, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, said the incident, which occurred at midday, was “the partial collapse of a four-floor building that is over forty years old”.

Mr Bamgbose-Martins, according to a statement by Mukaila Sanusi, spokesman of the ministry, had directed the adjoining building be demolished for safety reasons.

The commissioner said that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory had been instructed to unravel the cause.

He said the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency had since begun rescue operations and efforts were on to save anyone trapped in the rubbles.

Lagos has recorded recurring cases of building collapse, with Friday’s incident coming on the heels of a seven-storey building on Oba Idowu Oniru Street, Lekki, on September 4.

The building, which was under construction, caved in, leading to the death of no fewer than five persons. The former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Idris Salako, resigned his appointment a day after the incident.

On September 17, his successor, Mr Bamgbose-Martins, at a meeting, told staff members of agencies under the ministry that it could no longer be business as usual.

(NAN)