Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has returned to the site of the devastating Christmas Eve inferno at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House on Martins Street, Lagos Island.
During his visitation yesterday, he delivered a sobering update on the rescue and recovery efforts.
Confirming a rise in the casualty figures, the governor revealed that eight people have now been confirmed dead.
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While thirteen traders were rescued from the debris, the search continues as emergency teams from LASEMA, NEMA, and security agencies comb through the rubble of the 25-storey complex.
The governor disclosed that while five victims have been identified and claimed by their families, three bodies were “burnt beyond recognition.”
“We will conduct DNA tests on the three charred bodies evaluated from the site to identify their families,” Sanwo-Olu stated, expressing deep sympathy for those searching for missing loved ones.
He further noted that the search team would remain on the “active site” to explore every possibility of locating trapped survivors, despite the presence of unburnt flammable materials that continue to pose risks to responders.
Following an on-the-spot audit of the adjoining streets in the Balogun Market, Sanwo-Olu decried what he described as a “reckless flouting” of the state’s building codes.
The governor’s audit revealed safety breaches.
Over 14 industrial generators were found placed as high as the fourth and fifth floors of some buildings, unapproved extensions and shops were built directly over original floor plans, shops were found constructed immediately adjacent to high-voltage electric transformers and illegal trading in unapproved areas significantly delayed the arrival of first responders on the day of the fire.
Sanwo-Olu announced that the state would no longer tolerate the “distressed” state of buildings within the Balogun market.
He directed an immediate, comprehensive integrity audit of all standing high-rise structures in the area.
“Regenerating the trading space is going to be a tough decision, but it is a proper step to take to preserve lives,” the governor asserted.
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He warned property owners and developers that unapproved or structurally unsound buildings will be demolished to prevent future tragedies.
He said as a safety measure, all shops and buildings within a 100-metre radius of the fire site are to remain shut until further notice.
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