Ikoyi tragedy: Only professionals should involve in building projects -Lawan

Following last week’s collapse of a 21-storey building along Gerard Road in Ikoyi area of Lagos State, the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has charged various stakeholders and professional bodies in the industry to ensure that only qualified professionals are involved in building constructions across the country.

In his remarks on a point of order raised by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC Lagos Central) on the tragedy where many lives were lost, he sought more participation of Nigerian professionals in the design and execution of projects in order to ensure prudency, efficiency and effectiveness in the deployment of resources.

The Senate President also commiserated with the victims and described the incident as one collapse too many, not only in Lagos, but in other parts of the country.

Senator Tinubu while drawing the attention of her colleagues to the disaster, lamented that it has claimed about 44 lives so far, adding that about 16 people have been rescued alive while the rescue efforts are still on going.

The Senate has observed a minute silence  in honour of victims of ill-fated 21-storey building collapse.

Many people are still being trapped in the rubble, including the Managing Director, Fourscore Heights Limited, Femi Osibona, who owned the building, and some of his clients and engineers.

The building was reported to have crumbled around 2p.m on the fateful day when workers were on site.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had since ordered an investigation into the incident, adding that a report of the probe would be made public.

He has also directed the indefinite suspension of the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki from office due to the ugly incident.