Banana Island: Sanwo-Olu orders demolition of buildings, indicts Federal Housing Ministry…

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered the demolition of three two-storey buildings in the highbrow Banana Island, Ikoyi.

Sanwo-Olu gave the order on Saturday during an assessment of the site where a seven-storey building caved in two weeks ago.

At 310 Close, the governor ordered the demolition of the structure because it was erected without approval, NAN reports.

At 306 Close, the governor ordered the removal of two buildings adjacent to each other because they were constructed under powerline and water.

The governor blamed the April 12 incident on the developers and other citizens that wanted to make quick money.

Sanwo-Olu also fingered the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, for allegedly granting an extension of the Banana Island line.

He added that the Lagos building officers were also not doing their jobs efficiently, saying those found culpable would be sanctioned.

“We have given an order to stop work, not only at this site but also in all of the construction sites in Banana Island.

‘You have seen the extent of unapproved extension into the water. You can see that the original line for Banana Island is not even where we are.

“There are several extensions granted by both the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and NIWA. These are the federal agencies culpable,” Sanwo-Olu added.

After the latest collapse, Abiodun Oyefusi, Labour Party, LP, deputy gubernatorial candidate in Lagos, asked Sanwo-Olu to resign for “incompetence”.

In November 2021, a 21-storey building under construction on Gerrard Road, also in Ikoyi, collapsed and killed dozens of workers.

The Coroner, Chief Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, blamed Lagos agencies, saying the structure’s density and setback on the site showed a gross violation of regulations.