The Lagos government says it has directed the prosecution of the developer of the three-storey building under construction that collapsed in the Onike area on Saturday, killing two persons.

A statement by Mukaila Sanusi, spokesman for the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said the commissioner in the ministry, Idris Salako, gave the directive on Sunday evening.

Mr Salako explained that the Lagos State Building Control Agency “had been mandated to liaise with the police so as to proceed to court and press charges against the developer, who has been held for violating the state’s physical planning laws.”

The statement added that the government regretted the “needless loss of lives and property,” due to the developer’s “unlawful conduct and antics” of defying stop-work orders as well as evading supervision.

“It is hoped that his prosecution would send a strong warning to all recalcitrant developers that it is mandatory to build right and engage professionals in constructing buildings in Lagos state as we will not hesitate to bring to book whoever errs against the law,” added the statement.

Mr Salako stressed that one person was rescued alive, while two deaths were recorded from the collapse.

According to him, excavation of the site by emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), was “ongoing and will continue until it is levelled to ground zero.”

(NAN)