The Standard Organisation of Nigeria says it plans to seek the approval of the independent panel set up by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to test the quality of materials used to construct the 21-storey high-rise Ikoyi building that collapsed on Monday.

Speaking with journalists at the site of the collapsed building on Friday, the deputy director of enforcement, SON, Enebi Onucheyo, said they plan to carry out a formal analysis on the building materials in order to find out the cause of the collapse.

He said they came to the site to get some of the iron rods and other construction materials but were told that they need to get approval from the panel of enquiry.

“As you can see, we want to get the samples of slabs and other materials, but they said we have to go through the panel of enquiry. So, we are going back to Ikoyi waterside to meet with the panel to give us access to get the samples,” Mr Onucheyo said.

He said as soon as the samples are retrieved, the result will be out in a matter of days.

On Thursday, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu declared three days of mourning for the dead, stating that “All flags are to be flown at half-mast in public and private buildings and official engagements cancelled during the mourning period.”

So far, no fewer than 38 bodies have been recovered from the site of the collapsed building while nine people have been rescued from the debris, as rescue remains ongoing.